Smoking raises risk of colon cancer

Smoking increases the risk of colon cancer, according to a study published on Tuesday that provides the first clear evidence linking tobacco use to the common killer.

Regular smokers were 18 percent more likely to develop the disease and had a 25 percent higher risk of dying from it than people who had never smoked, Edoardo Botteri and colleagues at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan reported.

Smoking has long been linked to lung and several other types of cancers, heart disease and respiratory problems but until now the role cigarettes contributed to colon -- or colorectal -- cancer was not clear, Botteri said. "The correlation between smoking and colorectal cancer has been inconsistent," Botteri said in a telephone interview. "The findings are interesting because for the first time we are quite sure there is a link between smoking and colorectal cancer."

Bowel or colorectal cancer, which includes cancer of the colon and rectum, is one of the most common forms of cancer worldwide and the third leading cause of death from cancer, according to the World Health Organisation. Risk factors include a family history of the disease, inflammatory diseases of the colon, obesity, lack of physical exercise and a diet high in fat and in red and processed meat.

Botteri and his team showed smoking also increased the risk of colon cancer after reviewing 121 studies that included 40,000 men and women with the disease and another 100,000 people without it. Their so-called "meta-analysis" found that the risk for tobacco users begins increasing after 10 years and rises over time, more so for the heaviest smokers.

"This study supplies a further reason why smokers should stop smoking," Botteri said.

Colorectal cancer deaths have fallen in some countries over the past decade mainly due to prevention and early detection through colonoscopy and other screening methods. In the United States, for example, recommended screening starts at age 50. The new findings suggest health officials may need to adjust the age at which men and women undergo screening, the researchers reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"We believe smoking represents an important factor to consider when deciding on the age at which colorectal cancer screening should begin, either by lowering the age in smokers or increasing the age in non-smokers," they wrote.

Source: Reuters 16 December 2008
Link: http://tiny.cc/DtvRf  

Smoking ban fails to curb the habit: Figures reveal men are smoking more

The ban on smoking in public has failed to increase the number of people quitting, a report revealed yesterday. The proportion of men who smoke has actually risen since the ban in July last year while there was no change at all among women. The figures, coming after years of declining smoking rates, are a massive blow to Labour's public heath policy.

A survey of almost 7,000 across all age groups found on average there was no change in the number of cigarettes that smokers said they had.
But in men aged 16 to 34, the number rose, by one and a half cigarettes a day.
It had been hoped the ban would help reduce smoking rates among the poor in particular, but instead the number of cigarettes smoked by working class men has gone up.

The Health Survey for England, carried out by the NHS for ministers, has raised fears that smokers are simply lighting up at home rather than in pubs and restaurants - potentially putting children at risk.
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: 'These are pretty stark figures which demonstrate forcefully that the Government's strategy on smoking has not been successful. It's yet another case of the Government pursuing tough eye-catching initiatives which in the end don't succeed in tackling the real problem.'

The smoking ban was introduced in England on July 1, 2007, to improve the health of those working in bars, restaurants and other workplaces through passive smoking. However, ministers also hoped it would help them meet targets to reduce smoking rates, particularly among those from more deprived backgrounds.

When she introduced the ban, the then health secretary Patricia Hewitt said: 'This is an enormous step forward for public health. It is going to make it easier for people who want to give up smoking to do so. Over time it will save thousands of lives.' 

But polls carried out before and after the ban show it has not had that impact. The number of cigarettes smoked by men aged 16 to 34 has increased by one and a half cigarettes a day, from an average of 10.9 to 12.5 a day. The percentage of females who smoke remained constant at 21 per cent, while male smokers rose from 23 per cent to 24 per cent. One in three smokers said the ban had encouraged them to stay at home, where they could still smoke. The numbers saying the ban would encourage them to quit dramatically fell after it came into force.

A spokesman for the pro-smoking pressure group Forest said: 'These figures show that the smoking ban has been an unmitigated failure.'

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: 'Smokefree laws were introduced to protect employees and the public from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. 'The legislation was never intended to be a measure to reduce smoking prevalence.'

Ed Note:
As the DH spokesperson notes, the primary purpose of the smokefree legislation was to protect people from secondhand smoke. Tobacco consumption has fallen but many people quit prior to the law coming into effect so that the difference in rates immediately prior to the ban and within 6 months afterwards would be minimal. Also the sample size of some of the groups reported on by the Mail would be too small to draw definite conclusions.

The BBC also covered the story http://tiny.cc/8zYbj

Source: The Daily Mail 16 December 2008
Link: http://tiny.cc/TFA5x

Japan Tobacco to scrap five overseas plants

Japan Tobacco Inc. plans to axe five overseas plants as part of an overhaul following its acquisition last year of British rival Gallaher Group, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Japan Tobacco will close plants in Singapore, Britain, Austria, Ukraine, and the Canary Islands, reducing the total overseas to 26 as part of restructuring that aims to cut costs by 300 million dollars, spokeswoman Yuka Kin said. She declined to say when the plants would be closed.

Japan Tobacco is also considering opening a new plant in Russia due to robust sales there, despite slowing growth in emerging economies due to the global economic downturn, the official said.

Source: AFP 15 December 2008
Link: http://tiny.cc/Nkd90

Syrian government to ban smoking in public places

The Syrian government announced on Tuesday that it will adopt an anti-smoking law "to protect people from the negative consequences of smoking on health, economy and environment". The law prevents smoking in public places and prohibits advertising of all tobacco products, reported the Syrian official news agency SANA. 

Local statistics indicated that smokers represented 15 per cent of the population, or three million Syrians, with an average of one cigarette pack smoked a day.

Syrian smokers spend about 26 billion Syrian pounds (about 562 million dollars), on smoking, and each smoker spends around 8 per cent of yearly income on the habit.

Source: The Earth Times 16 December 2008
Link: http://tiny.cc/RTA1R  

Awards to firms who cut smoking

Dozens of Doncaster businesses have been praised for their efforts to stop people smoking on their premises.
In total, 70 Doncaster businesses have been handed Smokefree Excellence awards for taking measures over and above current legislation to extend smoke-free environments and promote a smoke-free workforce.

The Smoke-Free Excellence award has been developed by the borough council and the NHS to build on existing Good Air Awards which came to an end in Doncaster with the introduction of the Smokefree legislation in England. Those receiving the awards took part in a presentation morning at the Keepmoat Stadium, at Lakeside.

Deputy Mayor Stuart Exelby said: "It is fantastic that so many Doncaster businesses are taking extra measures to ensure that the town continues to enjoy smoke-free environments."

Tony Baxter, director of public health for both the NHS' Doncaster Primary Care Trust and Doncaster Council, described smoking as one of the biggest causes of illness in Doncaster. He said: "We are working hard to help residents of the borough stop. These awards recognise the excellent work that businesses are doing to support people to stop smoking and improve their health."
 

Source: The Star 16 December 2008
Link: http://tiny.cc/Xkza6