The House of Representatives has just passed legislation 298-112 giving the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) power to regulate tobacco companies. The bill has yet to go before the senate.
The legislation would grant the FDA powers to restrict harmful chemicals added to tobacco products, and allow it reject new tobacco products.
The list of chemicals routinely added to tobacco products is to long post here, but here are just a few:
- Benzene — linked to acute myelogenous leukemia, and blood disorders such as aplastic anemia, and myelodysplastic syndromes.
- Fungicides and pesticides –linked to cancers and birth defects.
- Cadmium — linked to lung and prostate cancer.
- Formaldehyde — linked to lung cancer.
The tobacco industry is the only one allowed to deliberately poison people.
Though the bill is supported by the while house and is being hailed as a major victory for those who have been working regulate big tobacco, a question comes to mind.
Why is big tobacco allowed to deliberately poison people?
Even if the FDA did force them to remove some chemicals, the product, when used as directed, would still cause consumers to die.
Tags: 'big tobacco', Benzene, blood disorders, disorders, leukemia