Lung cancer and common inhalants

ABITS AND PLEASURES indulged in by sev-H eral hundred million people cannot be lightly swept aside, especially when the economic prosperity of certain areas is largely dependent upon them.Cigarette smoking falls into this category.There is a considerable amount of evidence that supports the theory that cigarette smoking is an important factor in the development of lung cancer.If the theory is correct, lung cancer may increase to the point at which it will be among the leading causes of death a few decades from now.Therefore, in my opinion, the subject is of such importance that it must be studied with the greatest of care.We should: (1) ascertain beyond any reasonable doubt whether or not cigarette smoking increases the incidence of lung cancer to an important degree; (2) study other environmental factors that may act independently or in combination with smoking to produce lung cancer; (3) study other effects of smoking on health and death rates; and (4) finally arrive at a positive course of action to eliminate such dangers as are found.Obviously, such a broad subject could not be covered adequately except in a lengthy report.Therefore, I will confine myself to the discussion of a few of the aspects of the problem that I believe deserve somewliat more attention than has been given to them heretofore.From animal experiments it is known that certain chemical substances can produce cancer.However, it is usually necessary to apply such a substance for an appreciable proportion of the normal life span of the species of animal under study, and the susceptibility of the animal is also a factor of great importance.As a generalization it may be said that the probability of cancer developing as a result of exposure to a specified chemical depends upon