Surgeon general expands list of diseases linked to smoking

WASHINGTON, May 27 /U.S. Newswire/ -- U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona today released a new comprehensive report on smoking and health, revealing for the first time that smoking causes diseases in nearly every organ of the body. Published 40 years after the surgeon general's first report on smoking -- which concluded that smoking was a definite cause of three serious diseases -- this newest report finds that cigarette smoking is conclusively linked to diseases such as leukemia, cataracts, pneumonia and cancers of the cervix, kidney, pancreas and stomach.

"We've known for decades that smoking is bad for your health, but this report shows that it's even worse," Dr. Carmona said. "The toxins from cigarette smoke go everywhere the blood flows. I'm hoping this new information will help motivate people to quit smoking and convince young people not to start in the first place."

According to the report, smoking kills an estimated 440,000 Americans each year. On average, men who smoke cut their lives short by 13.2 years, and female smokers lose 14.5 years. The economic toll exceeds $157 billion each year in the United States -- $75 billion in direct medical costs and $82 billion in lost productivity.

"We need to cut smoking in this country and around the world," HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. "Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and disease, costing us too many lives, too many dollars and too many tears. If we are going to be serious about improving health and preventing disease we must continue to drive down tobacco use. And we must prevent our youth from taking up this dangerous habit."

In 1964, the Surgeon General's report announced medical research showing that smoking was a definite cause of cancers of the lung and larynx (voice box) in men and chronic bronchitis in both men and women. Later reports concluded that smoking causes a number of other diseases such as cancers of the bladder, esophagus, mouth and throat; cardiovascular diseases; and reproductive effects. Today's new report, The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General, expands the list of illness and conditions linked to smoking. The new illnesses and diseases are cataracts, pneumonia, acute myeloid leukemia, abdominal aortic aneurysm, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, cervical cancer, kidney cancer and periodontitis.

Statistics indicate that more than 12 million Americans have died from smoking since the 1964 report of the surgeon general, and another 25 million Americans alive today will most likely die of a smoking-related illness.

The report's release comes in advance of World No Tobacco Day, an annual event on May 31 that focuses global attention on the health hazards of tobacco use. The goals of World No Tobacco Day are to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco use, encourage people not to use tobacco, motivate users to quit and encourage countries to implement comprehensive tobacco control programs.

The report concludes that smoking reduces the overall health of smokers, contributing to such conditions as hip fractures, complications from diabetes, increased wound infections following surgery, and a wide range of reproductive complications. For every premature death caused each year by smoking, there are at least 20 smokers living with a serious smoking-related illness.

Another major conclusion, consistent with recent findings of other scientific studies, is that smoking so-called low-tar or low-nicotine cigarettes does not offer a heath benefit over smoking regular or "full-flavor" cigarettes.

"There is no safe cigarette, whether it is called 'light,' ultra-light,' or any other name," Dr. Carmona said. "The science is clear: the only way to avoid the health hazards of smoking is to quit completely or to never start smoking."

The report concludes that quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits, reducing risks for diseases caused by smoking and improving health in general. "Within minutes and hours after smokers inhale that last cigarette, their bodies begin a series of changes that continue for years," Dr. Carmona said. "Among these health improvements are a drop in heart rate, improved circulation, and reduced risk of heart attack, lung cancer and stroke. By quitting smoking today a smoker can assure a healthier tomorrow."

Dr. Carmona said it is never too late to stop smoking. Quitting smoking at age 65 or older reduces by nearly 50 percent a person's risk of dying of a smoking-related disease.

In addition to the 960-page printed report, The Health Consequences of Smoking, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a new interactive scientific database of more than 1,600 key articles cited in the report, available through the Internet ( http://www.surgeongeneral.gov ). The database can be used to find detailed information on the specific health effects of smoking as well as to develop customized analyses, tables and figures.

The database will be continually updated as new critical studies are published, allowing the surgeon general to determine on a regular basis whether the evidence supports a new definitive conclusion about smoking-caused disease. "Using this technology, once a threshold of danger is met, we can quickly alert the American people of new information related to smoking," Dr. Carmona said.

The report found that for a number of diseases and conditions associated with smoking, the evidence is not yet conclusive to establish a causal link. For these illnesses, which include colorectal cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction in men, additional studies are needed to reach the threshold of evidence required by the Surgeon General's strict causal criteria to declare that they are causally related to smoking. These criteria were introduced in the 1964 report and have been updated in the 2004 report using new uniform standards.

For breast cancer, the evidence suggests that there is no causal relationship overall to smoking. However, the report notes that on a genetic basis, some women may be at increased risk if they smoke. More research is required to clarify the role of smoking in the cause and progression of breast cancer.

To help communicate the report findings as widely as possible, Surgeon General Carmona also unveiled a new animated Web site for the public showing the hazards of smoking and the benefits of quitting ( http://www.surgeongeneral.gov ). In addition, a full- color, easy-to-read summary of the report has been developed for the public.

"The Web site and public summary of the smoking report are something that I am really proud of," Dr. Carmona said. "By preparing materials that people who don't have a medical degree can understand we effectively bring the science to people in a way they can use. Improving the health literacy of Americans by closing the gap between what health professionals know and the public understands will have a lasting positive health impact."

Copies of the full The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General and related materials are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office on Smoking and Health, 1-800-CDC-1311, http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco and on the surgeon general's Web site at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov.

Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Certain things like car exhust, Candles, Barbecues, Fireplaces, Campfires expose us to those same chemicals in very high concentrations.

See

1 gallon of gas = 4695 cigarettes

EPA: Candles and Incense as Potential Sources of Indoor Air Pollution:

EPA: What air pollution does your fireplace or wood stove create?

Fremont City Council adopts a Wood-Burning Fireplace Ordinance

Chemicals in wood smoke

A typical two-hour barbecue can release the same level of dioxins as up to 220,000 cigarettes

Barbecue's fatty fumes add to haze

It should be pointed out that beside the gasoline humans have been burning the above and eating cooked food for many milena now so we would have evolved (or created if you prefer) to tolerate this stuff or we would all come down with cancer before we are 5.

The rest of your list is a complete joke because there is nothing in cigarettes that you aren't exposed to on a daily basis or part of our own bodies. This is aimed more at second hand smoke (It's a holiday and I am trying to get out of here so I don't have time to modify it) but it covers your list nicely. I suggest you take a chemistry 101 class before putting some of the more dumber ones on there

KEY

	Produced in your own body by metabolic processes		Produced by Auto Exhaust
	You are exposed by eating and/or cooking food		Found in the environment including the air we breathe
	Found in drinking water		Found in everyday household products
	Found in Alcoholic beverages
	Produced when anything including campfires, candles, fireplaces is burning.

The "Deadly" Chemical List

Acetic Acid

Acetic Acid is the main ingredient in vinegar, It's not harmful. But if we are to ban SHS because of Acetic Acid the we must ban all restaurants/bars from using salad dressing. Acetic acid is found in wines so we would have to also ban that.

Acetone

It may smell but it is not toxic. It is the active ingredient in nail polish remover. If it's so toxic than every women whoever changed nail colors would suffer serious health problems. Acetone is also used for things like bleaching Flour and used to extract spices So if we are to ban smoking in bars because of Acetone than we must ban them from making anything with flour, using any spices on their food or serving bread.

Ammonia

Again stinky but not toxic, Ammonia is used for cleaning and almost every cleaning product contains it (usually they add fragrances to hide the smell). In commercial industries such as restaurants and bars plain ole ammonia is the preferred method for cleaning floors. Ammonia is also naturally produced in our body and is sweated out. If we are to ban smoking because ETS contains Ammonia than we also must ban bars/restaurants from ever cleaning their floors and we must prohibit the room temperature from ever getting to warm so people don't sweat.

Acrolein

If we are going to ban smoking in bars because ETS contains Acrolein than we have to ban the burning of EVERYTHING!!! NO more internal combustion engines, No more fireplaces, No more Candles and NO more cooking of any food. Every organic compound in the universe that is burned releases Acrolein. And again even if you could do all your cooking "Off site" it won't matter because Acrolein gets incorporated into the food. All bars/restaurants must now only serve Raw food.

Aromatic hydrocarbons

Same as Acrolein above, They are a class of simple similar organic compounds that are again formed when anything is burned. Burn anything you get Aromatic Hydrocarbons so again no more cooking. Anti-smoking Nazis will often list the names of the different types just to make their dangerous chemical list longer. These include Benzene, Benzaldhyde (benzene carboxaldehyde), Butadiene, Naphthalene, Nitrobenzene, Styrene, Toluene, Xylene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAs). (Anything with the suffix -ene is most likely an aromatic hydrocarbon)

Aromatic hydrocarbons are most notably found in gasoline and it takes 4695 cigarettes smoked just to equal 1 gallon of gas burned. So just the fact that cars spewing exhaust are pulling up to or just driving by the place guarantees they will be in the air. If we are going to ban smoking in bars/restaurants because ETS contains Aromatic Hydrocarbons than we have to ban cars and trucks from ever getting anywhere near them.

Note PHAs (Most notably Benzoapyrene) are often cited as the most potent cancer causing chemical in the world by the antismoking Nazis which is BS, Yes it does cause cancer when test on mice however humans have been eating cooked food for many milena now so we would have evolved (or created if you prefer) to tolerate this stuff or we would all come down with cancer before we are 5.

Butane

Not toxic. A simple hydrocarbon used as a fuel and it is found in Gasoline again. It Also found in natural gas so if so if we are to ban smoking in bars/restaurants because of Butane than we must ban them from frying any foods. Butane is also used as a propellant in many aerosol cans most notably spray vegetable cooking oils like Pam and shaving cream so they must be banned to, Dam the ozone layer lets go back to using CFCs.

Carbon Monoxide

Same as Acrolein and Aromatic Hydrocarbons above, Again the burn anything you get CO

Note: Since it is the law in most places that all businesses by law must have CO detectors you would think if SHS produced anything approaching dangerous levels of CO those alarms would be going off like crazy.

Cyanides

Includes Hydrogen Cyanide, Potassium Cyanide, Sodium Cyanide and Metyl Cyanide(Acetronitrile). The first thought in anybody's mind when Cyanide is mentioned is that it is a deadly poison however that's only in very large quantities. Which is good because we are exposed to cyanide continuously from many sources including it being made in our own body by metabolic processes which results in a small quantity of cyanide always being present in human tissues. Because Cyanide by definition are a carbon molecue triple bonded to a nitrogen and the Earth's Atmosphere is 78% Nitrogen just like the Acrolein, Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Carbon Monoxide above Cyanides are also produced when anything is burned, We are also exposed to Cyanide just by Breathing air and drinking water. Even just touching soil will expose you to Cyanide. Cyanide is also found in many foods like Almonds, Cassava, Cheeries, Lima Beans, Sorghum and Vitamin B12 supplements.

None of this exposure to cyanides is a problem because we have an enzyme Rhodanese which is specifically made to detoxify it but if we are going to be consistant and ban SHS because of Cyanides those foods and anything with water have to be banned and because it is in the air and soil all bars/restaurants must provide their customers with Oxygen mask and require everyone to put on sterile gloves and a full body clean suit upon entering.

DDT

A pesticide that has been banned since 1966. Tobacco growers are certainly not using this stuff anymore. However there is still trace levels of DDT leftover in the soil so any plant will pick up traces. Trace amounts of DDT have been detected in Spinach, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Lettuce, Loose Leaf, Celery, Potatoes,Grapefruits, Cantaloupes and Squash. So if we are to ban SHS because of DDT those fruits and vegetables must be banned also.

Dieldrin

Just like DDT dieldrin is another pesticide that has been Banned since 1970 but trace amounts still exist in the environment today. Has been detected in Cantaloupes, Cucumbers, Potatoes, Spinach, Squash, and Watermelons again to be consistent those fruits and vegetables must be banned.

Dioxins

Same as Acrolein, Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Carbon Monoxide above. Burn anything organic you produce Dioxins. But it should be noted that according to http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3106039.stm it takes 220,000 cigarettes to equal the output of one 2 hour barbecue, So again forget cooking any food even outdoors.

Formaldehyde

Most famous for it's use by embalmers to preserve dead bodies, However if we are going to ban smoking in bars because ETS contains Formaldehyde than we must also ban alcohol because when your body breaks down alcohol the main breakdown product is Formaldehyde which along with it being broken down in your liver you do expel an amount of it in your breath and sweat. You also produce formaldehyde for many other bodily functions which is also released in sweat/breath. And I really hope these non-alcoholic bars/restaurants aren't in a place that is to hot or to cold because formaldehyde is used to make insulation so that must be also banned.

Heavy Metals

Heavy Metals often sited are Aluminum, Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Magnesium, Mercury, Polonium-210, Silver, Titanium

Heavy Metals that are in the above list are found in trace amounts in all soils and almost all water drinking or otherwise. Tobacco like all plants needs water and soil to grow in so any plant will contain trace amounts of heavy metals, So if we are to ban smoking in bars/restaurants because of heavy metals then we must also ban them from serving anything with and including water and since all plants used water to grow all fruits and vegetables must be also banned to.

Cadmium is found in significant quantities milk so we also must ban any and all dairy products.

Copper, Magnesium and Zinc are necessary nutrients and are found in many foods, Why they are included in any list as being dangerous is beyond me.

Polonium-210 interestly enough is found in high concentrations in caribou meat so I guess we have to ban the Eskimos from eating it.

Hydrazine

Most famous for being used as Rocket Fuel however it's main everyday use is it is added to boilers water to prevent corrosion So if we are to ban second hand smoke because of Hydrazine than we must ban a bar/restaurant from installing boilers (That's OK though because of Ammonia and Formaldehyde we don't want people to sweat anyhow). Also interestingly enough it has been studied as an anticancer agent.

Indole

I am utterly shocked when I see this listed on a antismoking Nazi dangerous chemical list, It shows they are just putting things in to make their list longer thus look scarier. Indole is found in cruciferous plants like tobacco. Not only is Indole not dangerous it may actually be very good for you!!! It is often sold by itself as an antioxidant, estrogen blocker and anti-cancer agent!.

Isoquinoline

This is common alkaloid found in many plants that we consume. It also being studied as an anticancer reagent.

Methane

This one is almost to ridculous to even comment on. It is the simplest organic compound and it is harmless, It is found everywhere and produced by all living and dead things. If we are going to inflict heavy fines for SHS then because of Methane we would also have to heavy punishments for farting. Methane exsist in our atmosphere at a concentration of 1.72 parts per million by volume so if we are that concerned about methane all bars and restaurants should be required to provide Oxygen mask. All in all if Methane is what we are worried about than we simply have to ban all lifeforms living or dead.

Methanol

Another one that is almost to ridculous to comment on. Methanol is generated in the body from the diet and natural metabolic processes. We are also exposed to methanol each day as it is continuously produced in the environment through natural vegetative processes, microbial activity and other related mechanisms. Just like Methane above we would have to ban all lifeforms to avoid methanol and that includes banning ourselves because there is a constant background concentration of methanol in the human body of roughly 1-2 mg/l.

Nicotine

Besides Tobacco Nicotine is found in many plants of the nightshade family that we consume like Cucumbers, Eggplant, Peppers, Potatoes and Tomatoes.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) & Acids

Include Nitrogen Oxide, Nitrous Oxide, Nitrogen Dioxide and Nitric Acid

Since we live on Earth and our atmosphere is made of 78% Nitrogen and 21% Oxygen it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize when you burn anything in our atmosphere you will produce NOx. NOx reacts with water and sunlight in the air to make Nitrogen acids. Often they are found in high concentrations in the air of urban areas. So if we are to ban SHS because of NOx than no bar/restaurant can exsist in a urban area. But wait trees are also a huge source of NOx, Yep when Ronald Reagan said trees cause pollution he was in part talking about NOx, So the bar/restaurant can't be in the country either.

Nitrosamines

Often cited as particular nasty chemicals found in SHS, But again because we live on Earth with our 78% Nitrogen Atmosphere instead of Venus if you burn anything in our atmosphere you will produce Nitrosamines.

Nitrosamines are also found in significant concentration in Fried bacon, Cured meats, and Beer so they must be banned. Yes if we are to be consistant a bar can not serve beer. Nitrosamines are also made by your own body in gastric juices when ever you eat certain vegatables so burping must be banned. As with other things the Anti-smoking Nazis will often list different Nitroamines seperatly to make their list longer these include nitrosopyrrolidine, dimethylnitrosamine, Ethylmethylnitrosamine, Hexamine, Hexamethylenetetramine, Isoamylamine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)

Propylene Glycol

The anti-smoking Nazis have got to be kidding when they cite this one. Propylene Glycol is harmless, It's used in many if not most cosmetic products, It is also considered by the FDA to be edible and is in many processed foods like Donuts. If we are going to ban smoking in bars because ETS contains Propylene Glycol than we have to ban all customers and employees who enter a bar from ever shampooing their hair. (Just go look at the ingredients on the bottle of your shampoo).

Come on now, If Propylene Glycol is so harmful why are we allowed by the FDA to put this stuff on our head and eat it.

Pyridine

Pyridine is used to make many different everyday products such as medicines, vitamins, food flavorings, paints, dyes. Pyridine can also be formed from the breakdown of many natural materials in the environment. Everyone is exposed to very low levels of pyridine in air, water, and food. If we are going to ban smoking in bars because ETS contains pyridine we are also going to have to ban doctors, vitamins and food with artificial flavorings, Bars and restaurants can't paint the walls and all their curtains, napkins, table clothes must be white only. Oh and because Pyridine occurs naturally in the environment every bar/restaurant must provide it's customers with oxygen mask.

Again Anti-smoking Nazis will often list the names of different isomers of Pyridine (i.e. 3-hydroxypyridine, 3-vinylpyridine, 3-Cyanopyridine) just to make their dangerous chemical list longer.

Silicon

This one is to ridiculous to comment on.

It's SAND!!!!!! For Christ sake.

Stearic Acid

Another joke by the antismoking Nazis. Stearic acid is one of the most common fatty acid in nature and is a building block of all life on earth, There is little we can eat that doesn't contain Stearic acid. If we are to ban SHS because it contains Stearic Acid then we pretty much have to ban eating. Also stearic acid like all fatty acids is in Sebum, So if we are worried about stearic acid than every bar and restaurant must provide gloves to their employees and customers so they don't leave stearic acid traces when the touch something. Actually we have to ban ourselves since Stearic acid makes up 8% of human fat.

Turpentine

Turpentine is commonly used as a paint thinner. If we are going to ban smoking in bars because ETS contains turpentine then of course we must ban all bars/restaurants from using or staining wood because it also releases turpentine and of course any trees (Remember Ronald Reagan talking about tree causing pollution - Well this was one of the things he was talking about) that are anywhere near a bars/restaurant must come down.

Urethane (Ethyl Carbamate)

Bad news, If we ban SHS in a bar because of Urethane than we also must ban the bar from serving Alcohol because urethane is found in drinks made by the fermentation process which of course pretty much means all Alcoholic Beverages

Vinyl Chloride

Vinyl Chloride is almost everywhere in modern life. It is used in building construction, electrical wire insulation and cables, piping, industrial and household equipment, carpet fibers and backing, windows, door frames, shades and blinds, shower curtains, furniture, flues, gutters, down spouts, waterstops, weatherstrip, flashing, moldings and it is used heavily by the rubber, paper, and glass industries. So I guess any bar/restaurant can't be build using any modern (Post 18th century) materials. Vinyl chloride also can be found in food since it is used to make many food wrapping and containers so to hell with Botulism, E. col and somenella the wrapping any food must be banned.

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