Tobacco smoke lung cancer

Effects of indoor air pollutants on humans are essentially the same as those described in Chapter 7. However, there can be some additional pollutant exposures in the indoor environment that are not common in the ambient setting. From the listing in Table 23-1, radon exposures indoors present a radiation hazard for the development of lung cancer. Environmental tobacco smoke has been found to cause lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. Biological agents such as molds and other toxins may be a more likely exposure hazard indoors than outside. 

Chronic Pulmonary Toxicity Chronic damage to the lungs may be due to several subsequent exposures or due to one large dose that markedly exceeds the capacity of pulmonary defense, clearance, and repair mechanisms. Chronic pulmonary toxicity includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, lung fibrosis, and lung cancer. The single most important reason for chronic pulmonary toxicity is tobacco smoke, which induces all types of chronic pulmonary toxicity, with the exception of fibrosis. 

True. Tobacco smoke is considered in most countries to be the most common cause of lung diseases such as cancer and emphysema. 

The involvement of tobacco smoke carcinogens in the aetiology of lung cancer is conclusively established, but the role of specific chemical carcinogens as inducers of colorectal cancer is much less clear. Mutagenic pyrolysis products derived from cooked food have come under suspicion as possible... 

Petersen GR, Gilbert ES, Buchanan JA, et al. 1990. A case-cohort study of lung cancer, ionizing radiation, and tobacco smoking among males at the Hanford site. Health Phys 58(1) 3-11. 

One of the major toxicity issues in cannabis consumption relates to the fact that it is most often smoked. Cannabis and tobacco smoke, apart from having different psychoactive constituents, are actually very similar in their composition (Hoffman et ai. 1975). Cannabis smoke is mutagenic, which gives it carcinogenic potential (Nahas and Latour 1992). Although no specific reports of lung cancer or emphysema from cannabis smoke exist, it is at least as harmful as tobacco smoke, containing three times as much tar and five times as much carbon monoxide (Wu et al. 1988). Cannabis smoke inflames the airways and reduces respiratory capacity. Airway obstruction and squamous metaplasias may also occur. 

Zang EA, Wynder EL (1996) Differences in lung cancer risk between men and women examination of the evidence. J Natl Cancer Inst 88(3 ) 183-192 Zeman MV, Hiraki L, et al (2002) Gender differences in tobacco smoking higher relative exposure to smoke than nicotine in women. J Womens Health Gend Based Med 11(2) 147-153... 

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