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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
Australia must raise tobacco taxes or smoking
rate fall will falter
2009: Study warns that quit rates will need to double for Australian smoking to fall to 10% by 2020.
Uni of Qld study points to the need for tobacco tax rise to drive smoking rates down. See
abstract
and accepted
manuscript
Australian smoking rates almost halved in 25
years
2008: Latest figures in Tobacco
in Australia: Facts and Issues show fewer
than 1 in 5 Australians are smoking, from 34 per cent 1980 to 19% in 2007.
Media's key role in lowering smoking rates
2008: International report shows how tobacco
industry uses media to promote; evidence for effectiveness of promotional bans; role of
news/entertainment media (including movies); evidence on mass
media campaigns, other strategies.
Key findings: tobacco advertising and promotion increases tobacco use; movie smoking increases youth uptake; mass media campaigns
cut both adult
and youth smoking. See full
report, summary, resources
Graphic
anti-smoking ads save 60,000 lives: Quit
2008: Quit Victoria study says graphic advertising campaigns have saved nearly 60,000 lives.
See ABC
news report 25/8/08
See study
abstract in Tobacco Control
More of that: TV ads, cigarette prices cut
smoking rates
2008: Australian-led study in American Journal of
Public Health says tobacco price rises and mass media quit
campaign ads cut smoking rates. Study
link in Quit
Vic release 13/6/08
Is quitting contagious?
2008: Quitting is becoming a social activity, happening more in clusters of people who know each
other, says 32-year study in New England Journal of Medicine. See
study
abstract
Smoking rates fall again, and public wants more
2008: Australia's 14 yrs & over regular (daily + weekly)
smoking rate down to 17.9%, says 2007 National Drug Strategy Household
Survey - and very strong and growing public support for tobacco-free
measures. See the
first report (pdf)
Australia has 5th lowest smoking rate
2007: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report says
Australia's smoking rate is fifth lowest in the world at 17.7% - headed by
Sweden (15.9%), the USA (16.9%), Portugal (17.0%) and Canada (17.3%).
See AIHW
media release 14/11/07
Seeing film smoking increases young adult
smoking
2007: The more young adults see smoking in movies, the more likely they'll smoke, says
American Journal of Preventive Medicine study
confirming previous research. See
the
study
TV
campaigns the biggest factor in quitting
2007: Anti-smoking TV ads are the biggest single influence
on successful quit attempts. See
Quit Victoria media
release 14/9/07 See full
study
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.
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