William Atkins
Saturday, 15 November 2008 20:07
Science -
Health
Page 1 of 4
The CDC state on November 13, 2008 that the rate of smoking is at its lowest level ever on record—19.8% of adults Americans—however, this still means that 43.4 million adults smoke and that tobacco smoking and secondhand smoke still causes 443,000 deaths each year.
The U.S. Office of Smoking and Health, within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state in their
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report article “
Slightly Lower Adult Smoking Rates” that smoking still “costs $193 billion” annually.
The CDC state that:
“Fewer U.S. adults smoke, but cigarette smoking continues to impose substantial health and financial costs on society….”
The rate of smoking was down to 19.8% in 2007, from a rate of 20.8% in 2006.
The article implies that the organization was hoping that the rate of smoking would be down to 12% or lower by 2010, but admits that this percentage is unlikely to be met based on the lower-than-expected downward trend.
The Report states that at least 30% of deaths from all types of cancer are caused by smoking.
Even worse, about 80% of all deaths from lung cancer deaths occur because of smoking tobacco. The CDC officials also report that 80% of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is also responsible by the smoking of tobacco.
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