ASH Daily News for 04/10/2002
HEADLINES
ASH, 102 Clifton Street, LONDON, EC2A 4HW.
Tel 020 7739 5902 Fax 020 7613 0531
ASH Daily News
4 October 2002
HEADLINES
Girl smokers link to breast cancer
Direct marketing ‘is a risk to children’
Vending machines may lose their slot in pubs
FULL TEXT
Girl smokers link to breast cancer
Several newspapers report on a study out in The Lancet journal of medicine
which indicates that teenage girls who smoke increase their risk of breast
cancer in later life by 70 percent a study shows.
Researches, who looked at 700 women, found that breast tissue is most
vulnerable to cancer causing chemicals during puberty.
The finding s provide some of the first evidence linking breast cancer to
smoking.
Dr. Pierre Band, of the British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, who
reported the findings in the journal said breast tissue was sensitive to
environmental carcinogens during adolescence. “Our observations reinforce
the importance of smoking prevention, especially in early adolescence,” he
said.
However the study also found a decreased risk of breast cancer if the women
started smoking after the birth of the first baby. Dr Stephen Duffy, of
Cancer Research UK said: “The study suggests an increased risk of breast
cancer for women who smoke in their teens and a decreased risk for those who
take up smoking later on in life. Both of these could be chance findings.
The effects of smoking on the risks of heart disease, respiratory disorders,
lung and other cancers far outweighs any possible protective effect.”
Amanda Sandford of ASH reminded readers that 80 percent of smokers take up
the habit in their teenage years. She said the findings might help to
persuade teenagers to steer clear of cigarettes.
Study: Carcinogenic and endocrine disrupting effects of cigarette smoke and
risk of breast cancer. The Lancet, Vol, 360, pp. 1033, 1044, 5 October 2002
Source: The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Times, 4 October 2002
Direct marketing ‘is a risk to children’
A leading tobacco control expert warned yesterday of devastating effects if
the tobacco industry is allowed to continue marketing its products in
people’s homes.
Professor Gerard Hastings , from the University of Strathclyde, called on
the government to resist pressure from tobacco manufacturers to allow direct
mail shots to go on after the imminent advertising ban.
Professor Hastings, whose research work at the university is funded by
Cancer Research UK said: “We have carried out a survey of around 700 young
people, aged 11 and 16. Of those who smoke, 19 percent say that they have
come across junk mail from tobacco companies. This compares with seven
percent for non-smokers. Most smokers start before the age of 18 and people
who start young smoke for an average of 25 years. This means that each new
smoker is worth £36,000 to the tobacco industry. With these kind of profits,
they simply cannot afford to lose them”
Source: The Scotsman, 3 October 2002
Vending machines may lose their slot in pubs
The Express reports that cigarette machines could be banned from pubs across
Britain amid concerns that they are attracting under age children.
Pubs run a voluntary code of practice which relies on licensees siting
vending machines where staff can easily see them.
Trading standards officers will report to the Department of Health later
this month. Britain’s licensed premises have about 96,000 cigarette
machines.
Source: The Express, 4 October 2002
Naj Dehlavi
Action on Smoking and Health
102 Clifton Street
London EC2A 4HW
http://www.ash.org.uk
naj.dehlavi@ash.org.uk
Tel 020 7739 5902 Fax 020 7613 0531
ASH Daily News
4 October 2002
HEADLINES
Girl smokers link to breast cancer
Direct marketing ‘is a risk to children’
Vending machines may lose their slot in pubs
FULL TEXT
Girl smokers link to breast cancer
Several newspapers report on a study out in The Lancet journal of medicine
which indicates that teenage girls who smoke increase their risk of breast
cancer in later life by 70 percent a study shows.
Researches, who looked at 700 women, found that breast tissue is most
vulnerable to cancer causing chemicals during puberty.
The finding s provide some of the first evidence linking breast cancer to
smoking.
Dr. Pierre Band, of the British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, who
reported the findings in the journal said breast tissue was sensitive to
environmental carcinogens during adolescence. “Our observations reinforce
the importance of smoking prevention, especially in early adolescence,” he
said.
However the study also found a decreased risk of breast cancer if the women
started smoking after the birth of the first baby. Dr Stephen Duffy, of
Cancer Research UK said: “The study suggests an increased risk of breast
cancer for women who smoke in their teens and a decreased risk for those who
take up smoking later on in life. Both of these could be chance findings.
The effects of smoking on the risks of heart disease, respiratory disorders,
lung and other cancers far outweighs any possible protective effect.”
Amanda Sandford of ASH reminded readers that 80 percent of smokers take up
the habit in their teenage years. She said the findings might help to
persuade teenagers to steer clear of cigarettes.
Study: Carcinogenic and endocrine disrupting effects of cigarette smoke and
risk of breast cancer. The Lancet, Vol, 360, pp. 1033, 1044, 5 October 2002
Source: The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Times, 4 October 2002
Direct marketing ‘is a risk to children’
A leading tobacco control expert warned yesterday of devastating effects if
the tobacco industry is allowed to continue marketing its products in
people’s homes.
Professor Gerard Hastings , from the University of Strathclyde, called on
the government to resist pressure from tobacco manufacturers to allow direct
mail shots to go on after the imminent advertising ban.
Professor Hastings, whose research work at the university is funded by
Cancer Research UK said: “We have carried out a survey of around 700 young
people, aged 11 and 16. Of those who smoke, 19 percent say that they have
come across junk mail from tobacco companies. This compares with seven
percent for non-smokers. Most smokers start before the age of 18 and people
who start young smoke for an average of 25 years. This means that each new
smoker is worth £36,000 to the tobacco industry. With these kind of profits,
they simply cannot afford to lose them”
Source: The Scotsman, 3 October 2002
Vending machines may lose their slot in pubs
The Express reports that cigarette machines could be banned from pubs across
Britain amid concerns that they are attracting under age children.
Pubs run a voluntary code of practice which relies on licensees siting
vending machines where staff can easily see them.
Trading standards officers will report to the Department of Health later
this month. Britain’s licensed premises have about 96,000 cigarette
machines.
Source: The Express, 4 October 2002
Naj Dehlavi
Action on Smoking and Health
102 Clifton Street
London EC2A 4HW
http://www.ash.org.uk
naj.dehlavi@ash.org.uk
