Below are just some of the latest important international, national, state and local health reports, surveys and major studies on tobacco. Summaries and links below, latest at the top, under these headings:

- HEALTH IMPACTS  (including deaths, foetal harm)  under: 
  - CANCERS
  - HEART/STROKES/VASCULAR
  - MENTAL HEALTH  (including cognitive impacts)
  - RESPIRATORY 
  - GENERAL/OTHER HEALTH EFFECTS  
     
- ADDICTIVENESS (including nicotine content)              
- SOCIAL/ECONOMIC IMPACTS (including public opinion) 
- SMOKING AND QUIT RATES  (including cessation)
- TOBACCO INDUSTRY AND PROMOTION 
- RESEARCH RESOURCES (other)           

For latest SECONDHAND SMOKE ("passive smoking") research: 
see Smokefree Australia health research 

For more research on QUITTING: see ASH Australia's  smokers' page. 

STOP PRESS:

Tobacco strongly linked with female reproductive harm

August 2010: Major US/Canadian review for Critical Reviews in Toxicology of worldwide research evidence on tobacco and other substances’ impacts on female fertility and reproduction finds tobacco (unlike other lifestyle factors) "strongly associated with adverse reproductive outcomes". Recommends that "women desiring conception should be advised to avoid exposure to both primary and passive smoking."   See  abstract

Smoking gets under your skin
July-Aug 2010: Review in Clinics in Dermatology of studies on smoking's impact on wound healing, wrinkling, ageing, skin cancers and other diseases, and more. All in all, not a good look.   See  abstract 

HEALTH IMPACTS     (including death/disease rates)

CANCERS

A cancerous genetic mutation in every pack
2009: DNA research says tobacco is responsible for tens of thousands of gene mutations causing lung cancers - average smoker getting one  cancerous mutation for every 15 sticks.   See   ASH media release 18/12/09  and  abstract  

Secondhand exposure may increase breast cancer risk

2009: Cumulative secondhand smoke exposure may increase breast cancer risk in never-smoking post-menopausal women by up to 25%, says study of over 50,000 women.  See  abstract

Earlier studies on tobacco and breast cancer: 
- 2009: Smoking may make a second breast cancer more likely, says a study published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. See abstract

- 2009 study in Breast  journal of more than 8,000 women patients over ten years at a US clinic found those with a smoking history 25% more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer. See  abstract   
- 2008 analysis of data from over 200,000 women shows NO link between passive smoking and breast cancer development in never-smokers - earlier findings "distorted" by self-reporting biases.  See abstract     
- 2005: Women who start smoking as teens or before having first child and continue for at least 20 years may increase breast cancer risk by a third.   See  study   

Heavy smoking linked with prostate cancer
2009:  Heavier smoking increases risk of prostate cancer - and the likelihood of dying from it, says meta-analysis of 24 studies in the American Journal of Public Health. See  abstract

Smoking raises women's risk of colorectal cancer by 20%
2009: Women who had ever smoked have a 20% higher risk of colorectal cancer than never-smokers, says Cancer Causes Control  study of  over 68,000 women. See  study   

Earlier studies on tobacco and colorectal cancer: 
- Active and passive smoking linked to colon cancer.  See  2008 abstract
- Review of 42 studies shows link with precursors of colorectal cancer. See  Science Daily report 2/2/08  

Most male cancer deaths linked to smoking
2009: Study in BMC Cancer  confirms smoking linked with most male deaths from all (not just lung) cancer. Survey of 25 years of male cancer deaths in Massachusetts found over 70% linked to smoking.  See  study

Women's pancreatic cancer risk doubled by smoking
2008 study in in the International Journal of Cancer  of more than a million middle-aged women shows smoking more than doubles the risk of pancreatic cancer. See  abstract 

Other studies on tobacco and pancreatic cancer: 
- "Smokeless" tobacco also increases pancreatic cancer risk.   See  2005 abstract

Few aware of bladder cancer link

2008: Study finds only 1/3 of adults know smoking is linked with bladder cancer - even among those with the disease. See  Reuters Health report 30/7/08 

Smoking linked to female genital cancers

2008: Tobacco confirmed as risk factor for invasive squamous cell carcinoma of vulva and vagina. Study in International Journal of Cancer.  See  Reuters Health report 7/7/08 

Smoking multiplies HPV-16-related cervical cancer risk 
2006: Report says cigarette smoking significantly raises the likelihood of cervical cancer connected with human papillomavirus (HPV-16).   See abstract  

Other studies on tobacco and cervical cancer: 
- Smoking increases cervical cancer risk by 60%.  See 2006 UK abstract 

Parental smoking may boost child leukaemia risk
2006 study in American Journal of Epidemiology of smoking fathers shows children's risk of leukaemia rises with parents' secondhand smoke. See  study

Smoking parents expose children to cancer-causing chemicals
2006: New parents who smoke put their infants in danger from cancerous chemicals, says study. See  HealthDay News report 12/5/06   See  media report and study

Smoking linked to prostate cancer progression 
2006: Smoking influences progression and prognosis of prostate cancer through impact on related genes, a new study in Cancer  journal indicates.  See  abstract  or  full study 

Smokers up to 4 times more likely to get oral cancer
2005: Smokers can be up to four times more likely to get oral cancer - but more than 95% not aware of the link, says Cancer Council Victoria study.  See QuitVic media release 30/11/05

Active and passive smoking cause cancer: world review
2002: Major research review by WHO's International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC) links tobacco with wider range of cancers than previously thought; also confirms passive smoke causes cancer in non-smokers.  See the report  

HEART/STROKES/VASCULAR

Even low smoke exposure may harden teen arteries
March 2010: Study of almost 500 13-year-olds shows even low-level exposure to tobacco smoke may lead to atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries). Authors call for children to be protected from all smoke exposure.  See  abstract

Children's passive smoking may clog their arteries at an early age
2009:  Not just older people's arteries can be clogged by secondhand smoke exposure, suggests study in European Heart Journal - children can suffer this at an early age. See  Protecting Children from Tobacco media release 24/7/09  with link to study abstract

"Tremendous" impact of smoking on heart, vascular and other deaths
2009: Smoking is "strongly" related to cardiovascular and other causes of death, says a 30-year study of 54,000 men and women presented at a preventive health conference.   See  conference site   - go to ABSTRACT BOOK DOWNLOAD, p. S26, abstract M137, Meyer HE et al

Secondhand smoke implicated in teen footballer's sudden death
2008: Autopsy in Italy links secondhand smoke with sudden death of boy aged 13 while playing soccer. Report calls for cardiovascular examinations of young athletes to consider smoke exposure.  See  study abstract

Young women who smoke double stroke risk
2008: Younger women who smoke more than double risk of stroke compared to nonsmokers, with heaviest smokers at nine times the risk, says a study in Stroke.  See   Reuters news report 14/8/08 

Even low passive exposure causes child vascular harm
2007: Exposing children even to low levels of secondhand smoke increases their risk of developing cardiovascular disease in later life, says this study from Finland.  See the  study

Smoking is a heartbreaker - even for the young at heart   
2007: Smoking causes significant harm to young adult hearts, says a study in Chest. Regular smoking harms the heart's ability to relax between beats, reducing pumping capacity.   See  ASH/National Heart Foundation media release 17/4/07      See  study abstract

Smoking doesn't just hurt ageing hearts
2004 study shows smoking quintuples the risk of non-fatal heart attacks in your late-thirties.  See  study 

MENTAL HEALTH   including cognitive impacts

Smoking addiction increases depression risk

July 2010: NZ study of over 1000 cases in British Journal of Psychiatry shows results "consistent with the conclusion that there is a cause and effect relationship... in which cigarette smoking increases the risk of symptoms of depression."  See  abstract

Secondhand smoke hurts kids' grades

July 2010: Children exposed to secondhand smoke at home may get poorer school grades than peers from smoke-free homes, says a study of Hong Kong students in the Journal of Pediatrics.  See  abstract  

Tobacco addiction neglected in mental health settings 
June 2010: Study of over 1,000 patients at an Australian psychiatric hospital shows documentation of nicotine dependence very low, treatment "negligible". ANZJPH study authors urge "Considerable system change and staff support.... to provide an environment where a primary prevention approach such as smoking care can be sustained."  See  abstract

Smoking may cause rather than relieve depression
June 2010: NZ study in British Journal of Psychiatry  points to potential changes in smokers' brain activity that could increase risk of depression. The study suggests smoking is not just associated with depression, but may actively contribute to it.  See  abstract 

Quit interventions equally effective in mentally ill
May 2010: Comparison of smoking cessation data in people with severe mental illness vs. general population shows quit interventions just as effective in both groups. And authors of study in Addiction conclude: "Treating tobacco dependence in patients with stable psychiatric conditions does not worsen mental state." See  abstract   

Independent studies show tobacco increases Alzheimer's risk by over 70%
Feb. 2010: Review of studies on smoking's impact on Alzheimer's Disease shows sharp disparity between studies affiliated with tobacco industry and those not. Review says tobacco funding has "skewed" findings for over 20 years.  See  abstract  - spool down to pp. 465-480     See Science Daily report 2/2/10

Pregnant smoking boosts children's psychosis risk

2009: Women who smoke when pregnant increase by 20% their babies' risk of developing psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, says study of 6000 12-year-olds in British Journal of Psychiatry. See  full study   

Secondhand smoke may cause dementia and other cognitive harm

2009: Exposure to secondhand smoke may increase the risk of dementia and other cognitive impairment, says UK study of more than 5000 non-smokers over 50.  See  study abstract     Smoking link to dementia:  previous 2007 study reported  here and  here 

Smoking almost doubles women's depression
2008: Women who smoke almost double their risk of serious depression, says Melbourne Uni study of 1000+ women in the British Journal of Psychiatry.  See  study abstract

Brain harm in alcoholics may be partly from tobacco
2005: Poorer mental function among alcoholics may be partly due to their smoking, says study in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.  See the abstract

Smoking while pregnant linked to child hyperactivity and unruly behaviour 

2005: Report in The Australian (2/8/05) on new UK study linking smoking while pregnant with antisocial behaviour and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  See also study abstract, British Journal of Psychiatry 

Cognitive harm to kids from even low levels of passive smoking 

2005: US study of more than 4,000 children 6-16 yrs old finds significant reduction of cognitive results even after “extremely low levels” of secondhand smoke exposure. Confirms previous studies on learning harm.

RESPIRATORY

Duty free cigs adding to our military's health problems

June 2010: Study of smoking in Australian armed forces shows high rates in navy and  overseas-serving personnel; and worrying respiratory health impacts. Study suggests duty-free tobacco availability adds to the problems. See   media release with ASH comment 7/6/10

Exposure to secondhand smoke increases TB risk
Feb. 2010: Exposure to secondhand smoke boosts risk of tuberculosis (TB) in older women by 50%, says Hong Kong study of women 65-74yrs.  See  Reuters report   Australia's incidence of TB is only about 700 cases a year but strongly related to disadvantage - indigenous rate around 8 times higher than non-indigenous.  See  Australian Health Dept background on TB

Babies' exposure boosts adult emphysema risk
2009: Prenatal and postnatal exposure of babies to secondhand smoke increases their risk of emphysema as adults, says study of 1700 non-smokers in American Journal of Epidemiology.  See  study abstract 

Secondhand smoke doubles and worsens chronic rhinosinusitis
2009: Childhood or current exposure to secondhand smoke more than doubles risk of chronic rhinosinusitis, suggests Johns Hopkins University study in American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy. Severity may also be worsened.  See  study abstract

Tobacco impact on asthma still widespread: review

2009: More action needed to reduce active/passive smoke impact on asthma, says research review. Many pregnant women smoke; children's passive exposure continues; legislative and healthcare interventions needed.  See  study abstract

Preschoolers with passive-smoking mums have worse asthma symptoms
2009: Secondhand smoke exposure of women in 3rd trimester of pregnancy linked with asthma and allergy-related symptoms in their small children. Authors say "Public health policies should... reinforce elimination of... exposure of pregnant women."  See abstract

Women continue to suffer from smoking diseases
2007: Deaths and hospitalisation from asthma and COPD have fallen for men, but not women, says Australian study. Authors urge more anti-smoking campaigns on respiratory harm directed at women. See  MJA media release 16/4/07

Asthma study backs smokefree cars campaign
2007 Medical Journal of Australia study shows teenage risk of asthma doubled by exposure to secondhand smoke in cars - supporting calls for banning smoking in cars carrying children.   See  ASH Australia media release 19/3/07  including link to the research

Long-term smokers six times more likely to develop incurable lung disease
2006: At least one in four "hardened" smokers will develop Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), says study. Persistent smokers six times more likely to get the incurable condition.  See  newkerala.com report 17/10/06      See the  study

Older women smokers at higher risk of emphysema
2006: Fortysomething women who smoke are finding it harder to blow out - unlike our health system, unless more is done about COPD. See   abstract   See ASH Australia media release 3/4/06

GENERAL/OTHER HEALTH EFFECTS  (including general research on DEATHS)

Smoking gets under your skin
July-Aug 2010: Review in Clinics in Dermatology of studies on smoking's impact on wound healing, wrinkling, ageing, skin cancers and other diseases, and more. All in all, not a good look.   See  abstract

Smoking still our no. 1 preventable killer
June 2010: Smoking still Australia's No.1 single cause or preventable death and disease, says Australia's Health 2010 report from Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 16.1% - just under 3 million - still smoke daily, causing 7.8% of our burden of disease. Secondhand exposure of children still prevalent.  See  relevant chapter - tobacco is at pp. 84-88

Early menopause almost double in smoking women
June 2010: Women who are current smokers are 80% more likely to suffer early menopause, says a study of over 3000 women in Gynecological Endocrinology.  See  summary

Other studies on tobacco and early menopause: 
- Women who smoke more likely to start menopause before age 45 - putting them at higher risk of heart disease and osteoporosis, says 2007 study.  See  abstract  

Tobacco linked with Australia's top 7 causes of death
March 2010: Tobacco linked with Australia's top seven, and nine of the top ten, causes of death in latest Bureau of Statistics report on Causes of Death, Australia 2008. Of top 10, only one (blood-lymph cancer), not conclusively tobacco-linked.  See  overview - spool down to Table 3.1

Smoking linked with liver disease
March 2010: Smoking increases risk of a progressive liver disease, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), says a UK study of around 5,000 people published in the journal Gut.  See  abstract 

Maternal secondhand exposure causes low birthweight and abnormalities
Jan. 2010:  Major international review of studies on impact of passive smoking on pregnancy confirms it causes lower birthweight and increased birth abnormalities. Review of 76 articles, involving data from over 130,000 women.   See  review abstract

Smoking harms semen quality
Jan. 2010: Smoking harms semen quality, says study of smoking and non-smoking males - progressive deterioration with more cigarettes smoked.   See  abstract and link to full study

Early smoking associated with bone weakness and fractures
2009: Smoking at a young age is associated with bone weaknesses and increased fractures, says a study of 677 healthy young men aged 25-45.   See  abstract

Smoking while pregnant almost triples risk of low birthweight
2009: Smoking while pregnant almost triples risk of low birthweight - average smoker's baby more than 100gm lighter, 0.5cm shorter. Based on 1400 mother-baby pairs. See  study abstract  

Smoking is a pain in the lower back
2009: Daily smokers increase risk of chronic lower back pain by almost 50%, says large study - and 20somethings almost double. Back pain, affecting most at some time, linked with health/workplace costs of >$9b pa.  See  ASH Australia release 24/10/09  with abstract link 

Smokers' tongues fail taste test
2009: Cigarettes deaden the ability to taste. Study says smokers have fewer and flatter taste buds.  See  study

Call for smoking details on Australian death certificates
2009: Australian experts want details of smoking status noted on death certificates as they are elsewhere. The data, argues a paper in the Medical Journal of Australia, would allow more accurate monitoring of tobacco health impacts.  See  the paper 

Smoking is a big headache
2009: Smoking more than five cigarettes a day may bring on headaches, and especially migraines, study finds.  See  full text pdf

Quitting improves post-surgical healing

2009: Even brief quitting before cancer surgery can help healing, says a review of studies in the Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.   See  study extract

Smokers' muscles tire more quickly
2009: Smokers' muscles tire faster than those of non-smokers - no matter how much they smoke or for how long, says a Netherlands study.  See  Science Daily report 15/6/09 

Under-3s' acute gastroenteritis risk doubled by passive smoking
2009: Secondhand smoke exposure more than doubles young children's risk of acute gastroenteritis, says a 12-month study of 260 under-threes.   See  study abstract

Secondhand smoke affects babies' brains to cause SIDS
2009: Australian study shows not just prenatal smoke in utero but also secondhand smoke after birth makes babies' brains more susceptible to Sudden Infant Death syndrome.  See Brain journal  abstract and link to full study  See  Sydney University report 23/4/09 

Other studies on tobacco and SIDS: 
- Pregnant smoking has double-whammy effect on low birthweight and lungs.  See  2008 study abstract

- Tobacco smoke now the main preventable factor in SIDS deaths.  See  2007 review of studies    See  2006 Lancet study    Hear or read  ASH comment on ABC radio's PM 16/10/07

Smokers still in the dark - better warnings needed
2009: Research shows alarming numbers of smokers still don't spontaneously identify heart disease, emphysema or cancer as smoking harms, and many believe dangers are exaggerated. Quit calls for bigger and better packet health warnings.  See  Quit release 19/1/09

Teen girls who smoke are likely to be fatter as young adults

2008:  Teen girls who smoke are more likely to battle obesity as young adults, says study of over 4000 twins in American Journal of Public Health. Smokers of over ten sticks a day twice as likely to become overweight - by average 1.34" over nonsmokers.  See  study abstract

Other studies on obesity
- Smoking linked with obesity in girls - and stunts boys - 2008 study abstract 
- Smoking may cut muscle but add fat . See study abstract   
- Smoking in adolescence linked with later abdominal obesity - especially female. See  study abstract
- Children of mothers who smoked in pregnancy 40% more likely to be obese in adolescence. See  study 
- Smokers have higher waist-hip ratios and bigger waists. See study abstract   See also ASH media release 5/5/09 on similar earlier study
- Adolescents more likely to be obese if their mother smoked while pregnant.  2006 Australian  study
- Smoking inhibits fat burning, causes flabby midriff.   See  2005 study abstract 

Cancer and heart the top killer diseases, (no) thanks to tobacco 
2008: Cancer set to supplant heart disease as the disease causing most deaths worldwide, with both heavily influenced by smoking rates, says new report by WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer.  See Reuters report 9/12/08 

Secondhand smoke raises child ear infection risk
2008: Australian Telethon Institute report says ear infections could be cut by 16% in non-Aboriginal and 27% in Aboriginal children by ending smoke exposure.  See  Telethon Institute media release 19/5/08 

Smoking causes a third of gum disease
2008: Smoking is responsible for a third of all moderate-serious cases of periodontitis (gum disease) in Australia, says Adelaide Uni study.   See  study abstract 

Tobacco damages genes

2008: US National Cancer Institute study finds 135 genes affecting lung activity are changed by smoking in ways that can cause lung cancer.   See  The Cancer Council NSW newsletter, March/April 2008

Other studies on genetic harm:
- Smoking fathers can pass damaged genes to children.  See  2007 study   and earlier  Genomics report 12/05
- Women smoking while pregnant may cause permanent damage to foetal genes - increasing risk of cancer in later life.   See  2005 study  

Poor sleep linked to smoking       
2008: Smokers have more difficulty falling asleep, sleep more lightly and more disturbed than non-smokers, says Johns Hopkins University study.  See  media report 5/2/08

"Smoker's acne face" a bad look
2007: UK study identifies smoking-related acne and shows women aged 25-40 who smoke are four times more likely to have acne.  See  ASH media release 24/9/07    See  study and pic

Smoking a risk factor for Multiple Sclerosis
2007: A review of six studies of the link between tobacco use and MS concludes that smoking increases the risk of the disease by 50%. See  abstract

Deaths fall but tobacco still Australia's no. 1 preventable health problem
2007: Deaths from tobacco in Australia are falling, says Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report. But ASH says strong leadership needed to ensure this continues. See Burden of disease and injury Australia 2003, sec. 4      See  ASH media release 25/5/07

Smoking makes you weak-kneed
2007: Australian researchers have found a link between smoking and weak knees. Menzies Research Institute study shows smokers increase risk of knee osteoarthritis.  Full study from  Arthritis and Rheumatism, May 2007

Heavy smokers need to quit, not just cut down
2006: Tobacco Control  has published a large longitudinal Norwegian study showing that heavy smokers who reduce their smoking do not reduce their mortality risk. See  the study

Pregnant women 'program' kids to smoke
2006: Children whose mother smoked when pregnant almost 3x more likely to take it up when teenagers, says Australian study tracking 3000 mothers and 4500 children for 20 years.    See  Melbourne Age report 28/11/06    See  full study 

Death rate cut by smoking decline, sustained progress "essential": cancer study

2006: Study of US cancer deaths finds they would not have fallen since the 1990s without a decline in smoking. The study says "sustained progress in tobacco control is essential if we are to continue to make progress against cancer."   See full  Tobacco Control paper  

Smokers have higher risk of HIV infection
2006: Smoking may increase risk HIV infection by up to 3.5 times, says research review in Sexually Transmitted Infections. Authors say smoking may be an independent risk factor because of its impact on the immune system.  See  review abstract   

Babies may absorb smoke residue in the home
2006: Crawling babies explore the world by touching - and tasting - anything they can get their wet little hands on. Including smoking residue.  Latest research in  USA Today 7/8/06 

Secondhand smoke may trigger diabetes
2006: British Medical Journal  study suggests secondhand smoke may trigger diabetes. The study also points to smoking increasing glucose intolerance, a precursor of type 2 diabetes.  See  SmokeFree Australia media release 7/4/06   See  BMJ abstract 

Mortality over the 20th century in Australia: trends & patterns in major causes 

2006: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report analyses causes of death from 1907 to 2000; mortality trends, successes and areas of concern. See  report  and  media release

Smoking increases impotence risk by 40%
2006: Men who smoke a pack a day are 40% more likely to experience erectile dysfunction than non-smokers, says a new study in Tobacco Control.   See  full study

Heavy smokers triple risk of middle-aged death 
2006: Large study (50,000+) shows continued heavy smoking vs non-smoking increases death risk from age 40-70 by up to 26% (men) and up to 41% (women).    See  abstract 

Even moderate smoking trebles heart/cancer death risk
2005: "Social smokers", take heed: even a 1-4 cigarette-a-day habit still trebles your risk of death from heart disease or cancer, says large study in Tobacco Control. See National Heart Foundation media release 22/9/05     See the full study    

Smokers: do that and you'll go blind
2005: Smokers are 2-3 times more likely to go blind from Age-related Macular Degeneration in later life, finds research review in Royal College of Opthalmologists journal.   See review abstract 

Smoking really costs an arm and a leg
2005: Report from ASH UK on incidence of Peripheral Artery Disease. Smokers have 10-16 times greater risk of developing this - and it can lead to amputation. See report pdf 

Study links passive smoke to diabetes, coronary artery disease 
2005: ASH media release on study linking secondhand smoke exposure with adolescent development of syndrome connected with Diabetes II and coronary artery disease. See also study abstract, Circulation

Quit and save your teeth: smokers six times more likely to have gum disease
2005: UK study in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology showing smokers who quit are much less likely to lose their teeth prematurely.

Smoking doubles eye disorder risk
2005: People who smoke double their risk of a degenerative eye disorder that is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly, says British Journal of Opthalmology  study. See also 2005 review in Eye journal:  abstract 

Smoking at 60 doubles death risk
2005: New actuarial figures from the UK show smoking at age 60 doubles your death risk. New tables conservatively estimate the risk at different ages in this Times Online report.  

Smoking linked with MS progression 
2005: Study in Brain shows smoking may contribute to progression of Multiple Sclerosis. Harvard researchers say quitting could limit or delay central nervous system deterioration.

Vitamin E loss from smoking increases health risks 
2005: Studies from Oregon State University, US show Vitamin E disappears more quickly in smokers than in non-smokers. This may help explain how smoking causes cancer. 

The Health Consequences of Smoking
US Surgeon-General's report. Very comprehensive.  

Smoking parents give kids 9 times higher risk of meningococcal disease
2004 study from Queensland. The smoking-meningococcal link was something Philip Morris knew but kept kept under wraps.  See ASH release 2001, Smoking multiplies meningococcal risk  

"Lights" do not reduce lung cancer risk  
2004 study from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in British Medical Journal samples almost a million people and finds "light"/ "low-tar" brand smokers fare no better than other smokers.  See also CNN report   ASH Australia started the successful campaign to ban these terms here

ADDICTIVENESS   (including nicotine content)

Menthol is a cool addiction tool
June 2010:  Menthol no harmless flavour, says study in Nicotine and Tobacco Research - helps absorption of addictive nicotine through the mouth. Study boosts call for content regulation - and for the industry to tell all it knows of menthol and its use. See study abstract  and  ASH Australia media release 2/6/10

A single puff may trigger addiction: tobacco-funded study
March 2010: A study sponsored by tobacco giant Philip Morris in Psychopharmacology  has found nicotine concentration in the brain after just one puff is enough to trigger mechanisms related to addiction.  See  abstract and preview  and  full study pdf

Passive smoking in cars may be hooking children

2008: Survey of almost 1500 children aged 10-12 in Addictive Behaviors finds smoke exposure in cars may be linked with nicotine dependence; and "If replicated, this... provides support for interventions that promote non-smoking in motor vehicles."  See  study preview  

More than 100 additives hook or hide
2007: Over 100 additives are in cigarettes to boost addictiveness or hide health harm or bad smell - study authors urging "regulatory control of tobacco additives."  See abstract 

Youths can be hooked in two days
2007: Study says some youths lose autonomy over tobacco within two days of first inhaling; dependence, withdrawal symptoms and failed attempts at cessation can precede daily smoking.   See  abstract and link to full study    

Nicotine doses may have risen

2006: ASH seeks full disclosure and greater regulatory control over tobacco products in Australia, after US report suggests nicotine in cigarettes may have risen 10- 20% over 6 years.   See  ASH media release 31/8/06     See the  Massachusetts report and factsheets  

SOCIAL/ECONOMIC IMPACTS  (including public opinion)

Watching smoking in movies can treble teen smoking uptake
2009: Teens most exposed to film smoking 3 x more likely to try or take up smoking, says study in Current Directions in Psychological Science. Authors suggest "eliminating smoking in movies may prevent a substantial number of adolescents from smoking."  See  abstract

Health insurers invest in tobacco, then slug smokers
2009: Research on investments by UK and North American-based health insurance companies shows they invest billions in tobacco - then slug smokers with higher premiums.  See letter in  New England Journal of Medicine 4/6/09 

Tobacco control measures are egalitarian
2009: Raising cigarette prices by taxation and adopting clean indoor air laws benefit disadvantaged groups in US society as much as advantaged, says study in Social Science and Medicine. See  the study

How to burn up $300,000
2008: Cigarettes cost each Australian smoker $300,000 during a shortened life. Startling figures in letter from South Australian infectious diseases physician to Medical Journal of Australia.    See  the letter

Smoking rates fall again, and public wants more
2008: National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2007 shows very strong and growing public support for anti-tobacco measures.  See the first report (pdf)

Tobacco's $31b drain on Australian economy
2008: Tobacco costs the Australian community over $31b a year, says National Drug Strategy report. Tobacco each year causes around 15,000 deaths, including 36 aged under 15; most drug abuse costs, more than all other drugs (including alcohol) combined; over $15b in workplace costs, double all other drugs combined; over $12b in crime costs, more than alcohol or any other drug; over 750,000 hospital bed days, 8% of them children under 15; over $600m hospital costs.  NDS Monograph 64,  summary, full report    

Strong public support for government action against tobacco
2007: AMA/ACOSH survey shows very strong support for government spending on Quit campaigns, full disclosure of ingredients, mandatory anti-smoking ads in cinemas and an end to tobacco political donations.  See  AMA/ACOSH media release 16/10/07 

Health costs would plummet from modest smoking rate reduction  
2005 Medical Journal of Australia study shows over 3000 heart attack and over 1000 stroke hospitalisations could be avoided and more than $60m in health care costs saved short-term, if smoking rates fell by 1% each year for the next five years.

Smoking is NOT sexy  
Another tobacco PR myth exposed - by this 2005 survey from Glaxo Smith Kline. 

Reduced smoking in NSW would help poorest most
2004 macroeconomic study by Junor et al, commissioned by Cancer Council NSW, kiboshes theory that tobacco control penalises the poor.

SMOKING AND QUIT RATES   
(prevalence, including children; impacts on prevalence & quitting) 

See also below under TOBACCO PROMOTION for studies on the impact of this on smoking behaviour

Low daily tobacco consumption in remote communities: study
July 2010: While smoking rates remain high in remote indigenous communities, daily number of cigarettes smoked is around half the national average according to a study of five SA communities published in Australian and NZ Journal of Public Health.  See  media release 13/7/10   and the  study 

Quit rate not improved by pre-attempt NRT
June 2010: Giving smokers Nicotine Replacement Therapy for a fortnight before their cessation attempts does not improve quit rates at six months afterward, says a University of Auckland study of more than 1,100 smokers in Addiction.  See  abstract

Duty free cigs adding to our military's health problems

June 2010: Study of smoking in Australian armed forces shows high rates in navy and  overseas-serving personnel; and worrying respiratory health impacts. University of Newcastle - Centre for Military and Veterans' health study suggests duty-free tobacco availability  contributes to the problems. See   media release with ASH comment 7/6/10

Tobacco tax hikes can slash smoking in high risk groups
June 2010: Tobacco tax rises can slash smoking rates among people struggling with drug,  binge drinking or mental health problems, says study in American Journal of Public Health. The study of over 7,500 people found these groups more than 18% more likely to quit smoking if prices rose. See  Healthday report 6/6/10  and  abstract

NSW smoking data: fall slows, female rate dropping but male rate stalled
May 2010: Latest data on NSW adult smoking rates for 2009 released by the NSW government show mixed results. A good fall since 1997 but very little since 2006, down only from 17.7 to 17.2%. Female prevalence is falling but the male rate has stalled and the middle-aged male rate has risen since 2006. Adult Health Report NSW 2009   - pp. 52-56.

Switching may undermine quitting
2009: Switching to "lighter" / "lower tar" brands may reduce likelihood of quitting by almost 50%, says study in Tobacco Control.  See  full study pdf

Women twice as likely to smoke if Lesbian or bisexual
2009: Lesbian and bisexual women are almost twice as likely to be smokers than women generally, says WA study of more than 900 women in BMC Public Health. Health messages may not be reaching this group effectively - new strategies may be needed.   See  full study

Three-quarters of smokers would quit if price raised 50%
2009: 74% of smokers say they would quit if cigarette prices increased by 50% according to Quit / Heart Foundation / Cancer Council study. Along with ASH, they call for immediate tobacco tax rises.   See  media release 15/4/09     US adopts largest-ever federal increase in tobacco tax: see  USA Today report 31/3/09   What Australian government should do: see Realistic funding

Watching smoky movies can double teen uptake
2009: Exposure to smoking scenes in movies can double smoking uptake between early teens and young adulthood, says US study of 1,790 children in Pediatrics. See  study 

Packet warnings boost quit attempts
2009: Noticing and reacting to health warnings on cigarette packets has significant impact on quit attempts, says four-country study from Cancer Council Victoria in Addiction. See  study abstract 

TOBACCO INDUSTRY AND PROMOTION

Tobacco industry took control of heart study to confuse smoking link
August 2010:  A tobacco industry front group gained control of a landmark study of heart disease to "create confusion" about the role of smoking, says a study of industry documents. The Council for Tobacco Research funded the ongoing Framingham Heart Study in Massachusetts, US, organised a consultant to re-analyse its findings to weaken the smoking-heart link, and ended funding for Framingham's principal investigator who disagreed with the change. Authors conclude that "Researchers accepting tobacco industry funding risk losing control of data, analysis and publication."    See  abstract

Tobacco "least reputable" industry: world survey

June 2010: Tobacco industry rated least reputable among 5 major industry categories by independent Global Reputation Pulse worldwide survey of over 80,000 consumer interviews in 32 countries.  See  Sydney University/ACOSH media release with results 16/6/10

Tobacco industry may use gene research to avoid responsibility
June 2010: Tobacco industry funding of genetic research into addiction may be used by the industry to avoid responsibility for addiction, says a study of industry documents.  See  study

Exposure to shop display increases youth smoking  
2009: NZ study of 28,000 students shows more exposure of 14-15-year-olds to tobacco displays at point of sale is linked with more smoking. Shop display exposure "strongly associated" with starting and continuing smoking. Authors suggest "point of sale displays.... as a part of a comprehensive ban" on tobacco promotion.  See  full study pdf

Next steps in regulating tobacco retail: review
2009: Tobacco retailing still largely unregulated, says international research review - FCTC treaty only addressing limited aspects. Contrasts with pharmaceuticals etc. Suggests new debate on retail policies. See  abstract  or full text available by emailing  sc@med.usyd.edu.au 

Pack colours and design mislead smokers
2009: Study says colours of cigarette packs can mislead smokers into seeing certain brands as less harmful. Since bans on "light" and "mild" terms, cigarette companies are trying other misleading tactics.  See  full study  and  Sydney Morning Herald report 5/8/09

Retailer arguments defending tobacco displays slammed by report
2008: Study/review skittles retailer arguments against out-of-sight policy as “contradictory, flawed, unsupported by evidence.”  Same arguments are being put to Australian and other governments.  See  ASH media release 2/7/08     See  NZMJ study abstract  

Tobacco retail activity affects nearby school smoking rates
2007: Canadian study finds link between retail tobacco activity - displays, lower prices - and the smoking rates in nearby schools. See the  study

Retail tobacco displays undermine quit attempts
2008: Retail display contributes to "impulse buying" and undermines attempts to quit, says Australian study in Addiction. See  study abstract

Tobacco shop displays predispose children to smoke
2006: Cancer Council Victoria study shows removing tobacco products from view would help reduce encouragement of kids to smoke.  See ASH media release 2/6/06 with link to study

RESEARCH RESOURCES    (most recent at top)

Tobacco in Australia: Facts and Issues  
2008: Revised 3rd edition of  this complete online encyclopaedia of tobacco and smoking in Australia. Fully referenced, compiled by the Cancer Council Victoria. 

National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) 2007 
2008: From Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Included over 23,000 Australians aged 12 and older. State and Territory supplement has 13 tables listing state results on tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use, and community attitudes to legislative measures.

Global Tobacco Research Network (GTRN)
Network created to help international community of tobacco control researchers. In-depth searchable researcher profiles, clearinghouse of training and funding opportunities, world literature database, links to data sources, technical resources, interactive tools. 

Page last updated 13/8/10