The Impact of Gutkha and Pan Masala Ban on Oral Cancer in India
The expectation of a decline in oral cancer cases was high after the ban imposed on gutkha and pan masala in many states in India. A survey conducted by Salaam Bombay Foundation, a non-governmental organization, played a key role in the ban.
The survey interviewed 2,500 respondents, including gutkha users, to find the subsequent result of the ban. The programming director of Salaam Bombay Foundation, Devika Chadha, informed that with the ban applied in many states in India, there won't be any new users of gutkha, pan masala, and similar products in these states. Chadha said, "Obviously, it will help reduce the burden of oral cancer," as reported by DNA.
Misconceptions About Pan Masala
The perception in India regarding pan masala is that it's a mixture of arecanut cuttings and food flavors topped with sweeteners. This is claimed to be untrue; it is a product formulated to cause addiction, blended with traditional ingredients and inventive chemicals. It's sold in small portions and packages and available at low prices, making it convenient for people to buy. These products may be promoted as 'safe' compared to the option of tobacco smoking or chewing, but they aren't really safe to consume.
Shift to Other Tobacco Products
There are certain varieties of gutkha and pan masala that can be more addictive and harmful than cigarettes. The survey showed that people have shifted to other tobacco products like khaini, bidi, and mava since the ban. Chadha said, "We need to now work towards banning these," as the tobacco products are equally harmful to health.
Chemical Composition and Health Risks
There are over 4,000 different chemicals found in tobacco products and their smokes, out of which over 60 chemicals have been identified to cause cancer.
The tobacco products can be separated into two categories: smoke-emitting items like cigarettes and bidis and smoke-free ones like gutkha, mava, khaini, and pan masala. The estimates show that the number of tobacco users in India is 27.5 crore, with 25.9 percent using smoke-free tobacco, 5.7 percent smoking cigarettes, and about 9.2 percent smoking bidis.
Oral Cancer Statistics
With a high number of the population engaged in chewing tobacco, over 80,000 new cases of oral cancer are recorded each year, giving India the title of the world's oral cancer capital. However, India has imposed the ban on gutkha and pan masala in 16 states and 3 Union territories.
Impact on Children
The other concern was the high risk caused by the influence of tobacco on children, also seen as a significant reason to justify the ban by the survey respondents. With the easy availability of tobacco products, it compromises the well-being of children in India.
Success of the Ban
The ban has fairly succeeded in putting a lid on the number of people using gutkha and pan masala. Among the tobacco products, gutkha and pan masala account for the high cancer cases in India. The government has also imposed many rules on smoking and the packaging of tobacco products to diminish the number of cancer cases, in order to curtail the number of deaths caused by tobacco consumption.
Conclusion
LET WE SAY BIIIIIIG NO TO TOBACCO PRODUCTS
From India, New Delhi
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1141The expectation of a decline in oral cancer cases was high after the ban imposed on gutkha and pan masala in many states in India. A survey conducted by Salaam Bombay Foundation, a non-governmental organization, played a key role in the ban.
The survey interviewed 2,500 respondents, including gutkha users, to find the subsequent result of the ban. The programming director of Salaam Bombay Foundation, Devika Chadha, informed that with the ban applied in many states in India, there won't be any new users of gutkha, pan masala, and similar products in these states. Chadha said, "Obviously, it will help reduce the burden of oral cancer," as reported by DNA.
Misconceptions About Pan Masala
The perception in India regarding pan masala is that it's a mixture of arecanut cuttings and food flavors topped with sweeteners. This is claimed to be untrue; it is a product formulated to cause addiction, blended with traditional ingredients and inventive chemicals. It's sold in small portions and packages and available at low prices, making it convenient for people to buy. These products may be promoted as 'safe' compared to the option of tobacco smoking or chewing, but they aren't really safe to consume.
Shift to Other Tobacco Products
There are certain varieties of gutkha and pan masala that can be more addictive and harmful than cigarettes. The survey showed that people have shifted to other tobacco products like khaini, bidi, and mava since the ban. Chadha said, "We need to now work towards banning these," as the tobacco products are equally harmful to health.
Chemical Composition and Health Risks
There are over 4,000 different chemicals found in tobacco products and their smokes, out of which over 60 chemicals have been identified to cause cancer.
The tobacco products can be separated into two categories: smoke-emitting items like cigarettes and bidis and smoke-free ones like gutkha, mava, khaini, and pan masala. The estimates show that the number of tobacco users in India is 27.5 crore, with 25.9 percent using smoke-free tobacco, 5.7 percent smoking cigarettes, and about 9.2 percent smoking bidis.
Oral Cancer Statistics
With a high number of the population engaged in chewing tobacco, over 80,000 new cases of oral cancer are recorded each year, giving India the title of the world's oral cancer capital. However, India has imposed the ban on gutkha and pan masala in 16 states and 3 Union territories.
Impact on Children
The other concern was the high risk caused by the influence of tobacco on children, also seen as a significant reason to justify the ban by the survey respondents. With the easy availability of tobacco products, it compromises the well-being of children in India.
Success of the Ban
The ban has fairly succeeded in putting a lid on the number of people using gutkha and pan masala. Among the tobacco products, gutkha and pan masala account for the high cancer cases in India. The government has also imposed many rules on smoking and the packaging of tobacco products to diminish the number of cancer cases, in order to curtail the number of deaths caused by tobacco consumption.
Conclusion
LET WE SAY BIIIIIIG NO TO TOBACCO PRODUCTS
From India, New Delhi
Acknowledge(1)Amend(0)
The ban on gutkha and pan masala in several states in India is expected to have a positive impact on reducing oral cancer cases. It is crucial to continue efforts to ban other harmful tobacco products and enforce regulations to further decrease the prevalence of tobacco-related health issues. Public awareness campaigns and strict enforcement of bans are essential to protect public health and reduce the burden of oral cancer in the country.
From India, Gurugram
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From India, Gurugram
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