VASCO DA GAMA'S TOXIC LEGACY: TOBACCO PANDEMIC

Why in the news?

Tobacco is causing a global health crisis, leading to 8 million deaths annually. Its severe impact on health includes cancers, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and infertility.
Vasco da Gama’s historic voyage in 1497 introduced tobacco to new regions, leading to its widespread use and profound health consequences.

Historical Context and Impact

Tobacco, introduced to Europe in the 16th century, spread to South Asia through Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonizers.
It became part of South Asian culture despite its foreign origins, with no native words for “tobacco” in Indian languages.

source:slideshare

Economic and Ethical Considerations

Tobacco contributes 2% to India’s agri-exports and supports over 45 million jobs.
However, it causes over 1.2 million deaths annually in India and accounts for 27% of all cancers, with a financial impact of ₹1.82 trillion per year.

Data about Tobacco Usage

Tobacco causes over 8 million deaths annually, including 1.3 million non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke.
In India, tobacco use results in approximately 1.35 million deaths each year.
Around 80% of the 1.3 billion global tobacco users reside in low- and middle-income countries.
In 2020, 22.3% of the world’s population used tobacco

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