Fire Safe Cigarettes and the Industry (FSC) (carpet glue)
Last year I wrote about the reasons for buying Phillip Morris International as a safe, anti-dollar investment. Well, after doing some more research into the cigarette industry, I’ve found that there is cause for concern. Fire safe cigarettes. (FSC)
Fire Safe Cigarettes (FSC)
New York state was the first to require that cigarettes be made with fire-safe paper, though all 50 states have already required, or are trying to require, the new fire-safe technology. The FSC paper is made by gluing two to three bands of paper together with ethylene vinyl acetate to slow, or stop, the burning when a smoker has not puffed the cigarette for more than a minute.
The Guts: Ethylene Vinyl Acetate
Ethylene Vinyl Acetate, the product that holds the cigarette paper together, is essentially carpet glue. The product has no accepted internal (ingestion) purpose, and is considered to be highly toxic. In fact, the Material Safety Data Sheet, the “expert” on material uses says the following about ethylene vinyl acetate, “Not considered hazardous under normal conditions of use.” Normal conditions, of course, are those that include gluing a new carpet to the floor. Yuck!
The Data Sheet continues, in the same paragraph stating; “Can release irritating or toxic fumes and vapors if involved in a fire.” Naturally, all cigarettes are involved in a fire, as that is the only way they can be consumed.
What’s in a FSC?
Well, a lot. The health risks are plenty when inhaling the smoke from Fire Safe Cigarettes. FSC’s produced 13.9% more Naphthalene and 11.4% more carbon monoxide than regular cigarettes. Naphthalene is a nasty chemical, the main ingredient in moth balls, and contributes to the following conditions: headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, malaise, confusion, anemia, jaundice, convulsions, and coma.
Identifying Fire Safe Cigarettes
Smokers need only to evaluate the bar code of their favorite brand to see if their cigarettes are in fact fire safe. These cigarettes have an “FSC” printed above the bar code, and include all the ingredients and additional health risks as shown above. Ironically, since New York passed the legislation to include this ingredients in 2004, the amount of deaths due to cigarette fires have not decreased. In fact, many complain that FSCs are more likely to create fires, due to the fact that the ember falls off the cigarette more frequently.
Tying it into your portfolio
I originally suggested Phillip Morris International due to the fact that it operated outside the jurisdiction, and regulation, of the US government and Congress. However, my research indicates that many other countries, including Australia, could soon require that producers add fire safe chemicals to their cigarettes.
Not Good for the Cigarette Industry
Besides higher federal cigarette taxes in the United States (Now $1.01 per pack), smokers are in outrage about the new added chemicals. Smokers complain about a different and less enjoying taste, often cited to be “metallic” as well as a slew of side effects including drier mouths, lips and irritation of the throat and lungs. Also, cigarettes seemingly go out without 100% attention, requiring smokers to relight the cigarettes frequently. Many smokers also report sparks from the cigarettes when smoked, likely the result of the “carpet glue” being burnt with each puff. Another common problem appears to be a “brown tongue” from residue of the cigarette that some claim is nearly impossible to brush away.
FDA Involvement
Interestingly, after a number of complaints, the FDA is looking into cigarette ingredients. Likely, nothing will ever be found and very little will come of it but further regulation but only time will tell. As I said last year, and I’ll say again, the cigarette industry is truly a dying breed in the United States. If regulation continues passed the US borders, I’ll have to consider dumping my holdings of Phillip Morris International.
Your Opinion Counts
I want to hear your opinion, smoker or nonsmoker, in the comment section below. I can tell from my research that this is a very important issue for smokers and I would welcome any comments or additional information/personal experience each of you may have.
My letter to the FDA:
I am a 49 year old woman who has been smoking for 35 years. In the later years I changed cigarettes frequently, searching for the lowest tar/nicotine. A few years ago I found a good brand. They were extremely mild and after smoking them for a while, I added the Nic-Out filter for an even milder smoke. Then I found out that my cholesterol is high. Not wanting to add a med to my diet, I searched the internet and found one of the main factors in high cholesterol was low good cholesterol. And, the best way to improve that number was to quit smoking.
I have been trying e-cigarettes for a while. It’s been trial and error, until one day when I bought my cigarettes and they tasted terrible and were very harsh on my throat. I thought it was me and went on smoking. I started developing chest pains, swollen tongue; all kinds of strange symptoms. I finally called the tobacco company to see if they had made a change in the way they make them. I was told that the only change was the fire safe paper they’re rolled in. I went from the e-cig to the cigarette and back again to test them. It is the new paper making me sick. And, there is no alternative as this law appears to be going nationwide.
http://www.nfpa.org/gallery/FSC_2map2.htm
I am nearly 100% e-cigarette now. I have no more symptoms and my oxygen level is at 99 for the first time ever! I can’t wait to have my cholesterol numbers checked again. My views on the e-cig companies so far: Smoke Assassin had a nice size and weight, but no nicotine to wean down from and a vanilla flavoring - yuck. Smoking Everywhere is large and heavy, but satisfying with various levels of nicotine available (including zero); however, the cartridges dry out too quickly. I just received Smoke Relief and the size and weight are good; gives you a full drag, and one cartridge lasts me all day.
http://www.smokereliefnow.com/new-years-savings/
I’ve found my solution. But, to help those who haven’t, I’ve signed and helped spread this petition. Please read what people are saying about FSC.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/repeal-fire-safe-cigarette-laws
If any good came from the FSC, it’s that it is leading to more people quitting.
A satisfied e-cig user; soon to be totally vice free!!
RESPONSE:
Thank you for your recent inquiry. Check with your state legislature on the requirements about the addition of fire retardants to cigarettes. FDA does not have the authority to require manufacturers to add fire retardants to cigarettes. Among its many provisions, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act requires tobacco product manufacturers and importers to submit to FDA lists of ingredients, including the quantity, added to their products, and to report any changes to these ingredients. FDA recently provided industry with guidance on what specific ingredient information is to be submitted. Among other things, FDA is asking manufacturers to identify those ingredients that are added to reduce the ignition propensity of their cigarettes to comply with state fire-safe cigarette laws. To keep updated on how the FDA is implementing the Tobacco Control Act, please visit Center for Tobacco Products’ Web site at
http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts
i think,we keep updated on how the FDA is implementing the Tobacco Control Act
It is a “CRIME” for the lawmakers to cram this down our lungs, YES it is stupid to smoke, but just because some ignorant people fall asleep smoking in bed we have to smoke “Carpet Glue”.
I am all for fire safety, but when I put my wife in the hospital in October, I became suspicious. She has been smoking 30 years. Her lungs looked as if she never smoked. After FSCs hit the market she started to complain that her chest felt like it was caving in. After we spent much money on doctor’s bills the solution was Previcid. When my wife began smoking again she felt fine(non-fsc) A little later I bought a pack for her(fsc) and her symptoms came back. What is the tobacco companies doing? First they add stuff to make it burn faster. Now they are adding stuff to put it out. There are now over 600 additives in a manufactured cigarette. Come on Phillip-Morris and RJ Reynolds get with the program or everyone is going to go MYO.
signed
concerned husband
I always purchased my Marlboro 100s by the carton. At the end of December I purchased my next carton and couldn’t understand what was wrong with my cigarettes. After looking up on the net what heck was going on, I saw that my new carton was FSC. . .After a lot of searching, I opted to buy EU cigarettes. These are Marlboro without FSC. I will NOT have the government dictate what I can and cannot do with my own God given free will and choices! The cigarettes that I purchase are two cartons of EU for the price of one US! I am saving money PLUS I am not smoking carpet glue! I will NEVER buy another pack from my local store!
So it is illegal for people to inhale glue to get high, but we can smoke it???? that makes a lot of sense to me. These cigs are way toxic. I have started rolling my own. Invest in RYO products. That is what everyone has started doing to keep from getting sick. They will have to do something about this. Toxic fumes inhaled by millions, not good!!!!
I am a smoker and have had all of the symptoms from the fsc cigs. It is horrible. It is not an exaggeration. When I emailed one of the so called coalition for fsc cigs. They told me it was ok, people would get used to it. OMG, people will get used to it? That was the scariest email I have ever read. They need to pull these things before people start dropping like fly’s, just sayin.
Just how much damage have they done, and what is yet to come ?
Why am I getting so upset, when all that it probably is, just a little bit of harmless, governmentally dispensed, genocide. Hmmmmmm… You know what, it’s probably, just to be certain, we don’t injure ourselves, right ?
You wanna know what else ? They’ve got it covered all the way around. If, you should fall over dead while consuming this super poisoned contraption and it creates a house fire, killing the rest of your family, you will be able to take solace . No one will ever blame it on your habit because, you were, indeed, using fire standard compliant smokes . Finally, the most ironic part of it all will be when, the fire chief’s report concludes that, you simply just fell asleep, during a house fire, of a new, mysterious and unknown origin.
But seriously, if you don’t want to die many, many more times sooner than before, then you should do just as I did and vow to never smoke another FSC (fire standard compliant cigarette) . Alternatively though, I will,(especially now) continue to smoke tobacco in any form until it has been made entirely illegal . Also, if things don’t change by that time, I will have considered this nation unfit for habitation by freedom loving individuals such as myself.
These new and much more effecient, liver killing, death sticks had me sick for 6 months ! I had no Idea what was causing it until January, 1, 2010. I almost died ! I already had a liver condition . Thanks for the “heads up” “big brother”.
But wait, theres even more ! Do you feel a lump in your throat ? Is your chest on fire ? Having palpitations, overly accelerated pulse rate, insomnia, anxiety and/or mental depression ? Pulmonary edema , severe weakness, headaches, dizziness, kidney problems ? Are you having any symptoms of central nervous system depression, confusion, hoarseness, an inability to sleep in a horizontal posistion,and much , much more ?
When you get sick and you visit your Dr. he or she may have trouble diagnosing your condition . If so, just ask to be checked for ethylene vinyl acetate (carpet glue) and napthalene(moth ball) poisoning . Also, (this is important) don’t forget to mention that you have been burning and inhaling it at, what are apparently, toxic levels !
I would like to thank nanny government and all of the great many social engineers who are working so hard on my behalf . Now , instead of taking up to what could have been decades to kill myself, I can use the new and improved, fsc death stick, and potentialy, do the job in as little as a matter of months.
But seriously, smoker’s will now start to drop like flies, and you know what they will have to say , “Now you know, as we have already told you, smoking is very dangerous”. I have been a smoker for 30 years and have never had any symtoms other than an occasional cough until, the stealthy introduction of the fsc’s.
60 million, demonized and bullied US.citizens, may not seem to be that big of a percentage compared to the rest population but, 60 million people can completely blow the (always closed) doors from this crooked government and the rest of it’s perverted, twisted , greedy, narcissistic, social engineers ! 60 million voters can create a heck of a large swing vote . If we will all speak together our voice will be, overwhelmingly loud. Let our voice not, go unheard ! Once again, let freedom ring !
Call , write or e-mail your state and federal representaives and don’t forget to register and VOTE !
In case you haven’t already done so, don’t forget to sign and if you wish, leave a comment on the rather large and fast growing petition at,
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/repeal-fire-safe-cigarette-laws
Just in case, you are still a skeptical anti-smoker and don’t believe any of this, then I dare you, (with your heart) to just read a few pages of the comments made. A lot of these unwitting victims of this atrocity will undoubtedly now have to suffer for life.
Wouldn’t you expect to have been advised If the toxicity of your favorite medications , make-up or food additives you have come to depend upon, been increased, substantialy ?
Self destruction is human nature. You choose your vehicle, I will choose mine .
Disclaimer, I am not affiliated with any tobacco or nicotine product manufacturing, promotions, sales, shipping and/or otherwise.
I am 51 and have smoked since I was a teen. Until now never had the issues as I do now since I have had to be inhaling these new FSC’s. I think the people should ban together, get a good attorny and sue the heck out of all involved in the FSC’s. Its appauling to say the least of the research Ive done today to know the facts of what they are allowing us to inhale. Basically carpet glue that isnt suppose to be in any type of heat so no telling what its even doing worse. I have had severe headaches, very constint dry mouth, bad taste, coughing very bad, throat irritation. I really didnt realize till today how bad this was. Im rolling my own for now on. Remeber its not in the tabacco its in the papers.
Honestly dont blame the cig companaies. Its the FDA thats done this. If the cig companies had it there way they would have never done this. They fought long and hard against this. Of course you know the gov will always win eventually.
Okay…same physical complaints as everyone…Began to roll my own.
Pray they do effect the tubes.
I have feared for a long time that the cigarette laws (not smoking in bars, etc.) have been nothing but a trial balloon for controlling people. Now I’m certain of it.
I have read on some sites that some are blaming the right, some blame the left. Believe me…this is all about the money.
So buy your electronic smoking machines if you want.
Me, I’ll keep rolling.
How ridiculous…rise up people!
Pavlov’s dog comes to mind…
These are not fire safe, far from it. I’ve never felt a danger of burning my house down from smoking cigarettes, but now I do. When I have to re-light a cigarette, embers fly everywhere. Earlier this week they burnt a hole through my mattress, I had to dump water on it because my attempt to rub it out with my finger only pushed it deeper in. Suppose I had missed where that tiny ember fell?
From what I’ve heard, this chemical is making people sick. The fact that it not only doesn’t create a safer smoking environment but is also causing so much more damage to our bodies highly suggests that it’s aim was not to decrease the fire hazard. I feel it’s only purpose is to get yet another hazardous chemical into our bodies, and you can submit your own theories for that.
I was wondering why I’ve been feeling nauseated and light headed so often lately. Only after some research am I making the connection of it happening after smoking.
we should be given the choice to smoke or not i do not the government has the right to add toxics adgents in our tabacco.it is a violation of our rights which are slowly be taken away from us slowly each day no one seems to care or willing to stand up for our selves our constituion is slowly becoming a thing of the past and nobody seems to care
they are not only putting the tabacco industry out of business,but they are slowing killing people,i recently relit my cig. and when it relit it caught a shirt i was wearing to start to burn huge hole in it.it is our civil right to smoke therefore it is a voulation of our civil rights,my question is what happens to our rights next
This is all so common with our government…passing regulations that really only hurts the common citizen and generally has NO common sense attached to it! They rarely represent us and actually have disdain for us. I guess none of us should be surprised though…get a bunch of “intellectual” individuals together whos’ only passions are to see their own agendas’ forwarded with no real regard for anyone else…least of all the common US citizen…
Create cigarettes in a manner that lessens the chance of starting a fire in your home…hmm…sounds good but:
The leading cause of house fires in the USA is COOKING!!!
How can the FDA put regulations on home cooking??? Force all of us to dine out???
When will common sense enter the minds of our elected officials???
I’m 50 years old so I doubt I’ll see it in my lifetime…
BTW, if carpet glue in cigarette paper snuffs out the potential for a house fire then I’m sure that the FDA will soon be sticking their nose in residential building codes in that all new homes will be glued together instead of the usual “nail the sticks together” method…
Seems a bit foolish…doesn’t it?