Man, his environment and occupation

Abstract

King James I in 1604 described smoking as ‘a custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, and dangerous to the lungs’. Tobacco smoke has a complex composition, including nicotine (which affects the autonomic nervous system), carbon monoxide (which impairs the blood’s capacity to carry oxygen) and hydrocarbons proven to be carcinogenic to animals. Cigarette smoking appears to be especially dangerous, having the following effects:—

• 1. causes lung cancer

• 2. predisposes to chronic bronchitis and emphysema

• 3. increases the risk of coronary heart disease, arterial disease of the legs and cerebral arterial disease causing strokes

• 4. delays the healing of gastric (and possibly of duodenal) ulcers

• 5. is associated with increased incidence of cancer of mouth, larynx, oesophagus and bladder

• 6. during pregnancy may be followed by the birth of babies of lower than average birth weight and increased neonatal mortality

• 7. raises the risk of tobacco amblyopia, a rare form of blindness.