Smoking and lung cancer: Recent evidence and a discussion of some questions Journal Article
| Authors: | Cornfield, J.; Haenszel, W.; Hammond, E. C.; Lilienfeld, A. M.; Shimkin, M. B.; Wynder, E. L. |
| Article Title: | Smoking and lung cancer: Recent evidence and a discussion of some questions |
| Abstract: | This report reviews some of the more recent epidemiologic and experimental findings on the relationship of tobacco smoking to lung cancer, and discusses some criticisms directed against the conclusion that tobacco smoking, especially cigarettes, has a causal role in the increase in broncho-genic carcinoma. The magnitude of the excess lung-cancer risk among cigarette smokers is so great that the results can not be interpreted as arising from an indirect association of cigarette smoking with some other agent or characteristic, since this hypothetical agent would have to be at least as strongly associated with lung cancer as cigarette use; no such agent has been found or suggested. The consistency of all the epidemiologic and experimental evidence also supports the conclusion of a causal relationship with cigarette smoking, while there are serious inconsistencies in reconciling the evidence with other hypotheses which have been advanced. Unquestionably there are areas where more research is necessary, and, of course, no single cause accounts for all lung cancer. The information already available, however, is sufficient for planning and activating public health measures. © The Author 2009; all rights reserved. |
| Keywords: | review; cancer localization; cigarette smoking; cancer risk; nonhuman; cancer incidence; diagnostic accuracy; prospective study; lung neoplasms; skin cancer; lung cancer; smoking cessation; smoking; retrospective study; cancer mortality; questionnaires; experimental animal; history, 20th century; population research; public health; diagnostic error; cancer registry; smoking habit; aging; sex difference; cancer epidemiology; epidemiology; health risk; tobacco; autopsy; bronchus cancer; bronchus mucosa; causal attribution; lung carcinogenesis; research subject; respiratory function; urban rural difference; health knowledge, attitudes, practice; nicotiana tabacum |
| Journal Title: | International Journal of Epidemiology |
| Volume: | 38 |
| Issue: | 5 |
| ISSN: | 0300-5771 |
| Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
| Date Published: | 2009-10-01 |
| Start Page: | 1175 |
| End Page: | 1191 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1093/ije/dyp289 |
| PUBMED: | 19773415 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Erratum/Corrigendum issued, see DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyp344 -- "Cited By (since 1996): 8" - "Export Date: 30 November 2010" - "CODEN: IJEPB" - "Source: Scopus" |
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