Tobacco questions

Tobacco was recognised by Europeans as a medicine soon after it was first imported from the New World, and tobacco smoke was used by western medical practitioners as a tool against cold and drowsiness. During the early 19th century the practice fell into decline, when it was discovered that the principal active agent in tobacco smoke, nicotine, is poisonous. A tobacco smoke enema was employed by the indigenous peoples of North America to stimulate respiration, injecting the smoke with a rectal tube

Australia was the first country in the world to introduce plain packaging, with all packets sold from 1 December 2012 being sold in logo-free, drab dark brown packaging. There has been opposition from tobacco companies to plain packaging laws, some of which have sued the Australian government. Since the Australian government won the court cases, several other countries have enacted plain packaging laws.

Nicotine is a powerful neurotoxin to insects. Many plants other than tobacco contain it, however the concentration of nicotine in tobacco is exceptionally high. Even though some species have evolved the ability to feed on tobacco, it remains relatively easy to grow, being unpalatable to most species. In some places, tobacco became an invasive weed.

In recent years, the production of tobacco is growing due to increased productivity by developing nations. The top producers of tobacco are China (39.6%), India (8.3%), Brazil (7.0%) and the United States (4.6%).

Nicotinic acid, better known as niacin or vitamin B3, has nothing in common with tobacco. Chronic lack of niacin leads to pellagra, a vitamin deficiency disease.