Deaths from Smoking Triple Jumped

The death rate from smoking continues to increase. A new report launched by the World Lung Foundation (WLF) notes, deaths from smoking increased almost threefold in the last decade.

WLF and the American Cancer Society says, if this trend continues, then one billion people will die from tobacco use this century, or one person will die every six second.

As reported www.tobaccoatlas.org, tobacco has killed 50 million people in 10 years, and smoking is responsible for more than 15 percent of all male deaths and 7 percent of female deaths.


In China, tobacco has become the number one killer, causing 1.2 million deaths per year-and that number is expected to rise to 3.5 million a year by 2030.

Michael Eriksen, one of the investigators and the Director of the Institute of Public Health at Georgia State University, said the current trend indicates that a decrease in smoking rates in developed countries, but the increase would occur in poor countries.

"If we do not act, then the future this will be terrible, and the burden caused by tobacco deaths will be higher in developing countries, especially Asia, the Middle East, and Africa," he said.

Eriksen said, nearly 80 percent of people who die from tobacco-related diseases are now coming from countries of low and middle income. In Turkey, 38 percent of male deaths attributed to diseases caused by smoking, although smoking is still the biggest killer of women in America.

Meanwhile, CEO Peter Baldini WLF alleges the tobacco industry does not care about the effects of hazards that may result from these cigarettes. Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer and some other chronic lung disease is a major risk factor for heart disease.

Today, more than 170 countries have signed an agreement that made the World Health Organization (WHO) about the level of smoking restrictions, protection against passive smoking, and limiting cigarette advertising and promotion.

"We will never let the tobacco industry had the upper hand. Tobacco is a killer. It should not be advertised, subsidized, or made glamorous," continued Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO.

Sources: reuters