Identify the cause and effect relationship of smoking and lung cancer:

Essay by hecticlebHigh School, 11th gradeA-, August 2006

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A case study: LUNG CANCER:

Definition: Uncontrolled growth of tumours in the lungs

Causes: There is a obvious link between smoking and lung cancer. Tobacco smoke contains many carcinogens such as benzene

Effect: As the tumour grows, the air sacs in the lungs are destroyed and breathing becomes difficult. The lungs collapse and abscess and the patient may begin coughing up blood

Statistical Information:

- Mass production of cigarettes began in 1880 - free cigarettes were given to WWI soldiers

- In the 1930s there was a sudden lung cancer epidemic

- The first epidemiological studies which showed a relationship between smoking and lung cancer were in the 1950s, but they did not have conclusive results - they just showed a reduced live expectancy

- In 1964 the Surgeon's General Advisory Committee concluded that cigarette smoking was causally responsible for lung cancer.

- In the 1970s, as the numbers of female smokers began to increase, lung cancer became the number one cause of cancer death.

- Studies have shown a correlation between the number of cigarettes smoked each day and the risk of contracting lung cancer at an earlier stage

* Also, a gradual decrease in the numbers of people smoking in the past 20 years has been mirrored by a decrease in sufferers of lung cancer