LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
1991
Response to Concerns About Passive Smoking and Lung Cancer
Editorial
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Nicholas Wald, Howard Cuckle, Kiran Nanchahal, Simon Thompson
Primary Institution: St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College
Hypothesis
Does passive smoking cause lung cancer?
Conclusion
The evidence suggests that passive smoking does cause lung cancer, despite some uncertainties in measuring exposure and risk.
Supporting Evidence
- Non-smokers exposed to tobacco smoke have an increased risk of lung cancer.
- Passive smoking is a low dose exposure to carcinogens.
- The association between cotinine levels and lung cancer risk is notable despite uncertainties.
Takeaway
Being around smoke from other people's cigarettes can make you sick, just like smoking yourself, even if it's hard to measure exactly how much it affects you.
Limitations
There are uncertainties regarding the dose-response relationship and the specific components of tobacco smoke that cause cancer.
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website