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http://www.newsmax.com/health/marijuana_cancer_risk/2008/01/29/68263.html
Marijuana Bigger Cancer Risk Than Cigarettes
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Smoking a joint is equivalent to 20 cigarettes in terms of lung cancer risk,
scientists in New Zealand have found, as they warned of an "epidemic" of
lung cancers linked to cannabis.
Studies in the past have demonstrated that cannabis can cause cancer, but
few have established a strong link between cannabis use and the actual
incidence of lung cancer.
In an article published in the European Respiratory Journal, the scientists
said cannabis could be expected to harm the airways more than tobacco as its
smoke contained twice the level of carcinogens, such as polyaromatic
hydrocarbons, compared with tobacco cigarettes.
The method of smoking also increases the risk, since joints are typically
smoked without a proper filter and almost to the very tip, which increases
the amount of smoke inhaled. The cannabis smoker inhales more deeply and for
longer, facilitating the deposition of carcinogens in the airways.
"Cannabis smokers end up with five times more carbon monoxide in their
bloodstream (than tobacco smokers)," team leader Richard Beasley, at the
Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, said in a telephone interview.
"There are higher concentrations of carcinogens in cannabis smoke ... what
is intriguing to us is there is so little work done on cannabis when there
is so much done on tobacco."
The researchers interviewed 79 lung cancer patients and sought to identify
the main risk factors for the disease, such as smoking, family history and
occupation. The patients were questioned about alcohol and cannabis
consumption.
In this high-exposure group, lung cancer risk rose by 5.7 times for patients
who smoked more than a joint a day for 10 years, or two joints a day for 5
years, after adjusting for other variables, including cigarette smoking.
"While our study covers a relatively small group, it shows clearly that
long-term cannabis smoking increases lung cancer risk," wrote Beaseley.
"Cannabis use could already be responsible for one in 20 lung cancers
diagnosed in New Zealand," he added.
"In the near future we may see an 'epidemic' of lung cancers connected with
this new carcinogen. And the future risk probably applies to many other
countries, where increasing use of cannabis among young adults and
adolescents is becoming a major public health problem."
Marijuana Bigger Cancer Risk Than Cigarettes
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Smoking a joint is equivalent to 20 cigarettes in terms of lung cancer risk,
scientists in New Zealand have found, as they warned of an "epidemic" of
lung cancers linked to cannabis.
Studies in the past have demonstrated that cannabis can cause cancer, but
few have established a strong link between cannabis use and the actual
incidence of lung cancer.
In an article published in the European Respiratory Journal, the scientists
said cannabis could be expected to harm the airways more than tobacco as its
smoke contained twice the level of carcinogens, such as polyaromatic
hydrocarbons, compared with tobacco cigarettes.
The method of smoking also increases the risk, since joints are typically
smoked without a proper filter and almost to the very tip, which increases
the amount of smoke inhaled. The cannabis smoker inhales more deeply and for
longer, facilitating the deposition of carcinogens in the airways.
"Cannabis smokers end up with five times more carbon monoxide in their
bloodstream (than tobacco smokers)," team leader Richard Beasley, at the
Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, said in a telephone interview.
"There are higher concentrations of carcinogens in cannabis smoke ... what
is intriguing to us is there is so little work done on cannabis when there
is so much done on tobacco."
The researchers interviewed 79 lung cancer patients and sought to identify
the main risk factors for the disease, such as smoking, family history and
occupation. The patients were questioned about alcohol and cannabis
consumption.
In this high-exposure group, lung cancer risk rose by 5.7 times for patients
who smoked more than a joint a day for 10 years, or two joints a day for 5
years, after adjusting for other variables, including cigarette smoking.
"While our study covers a relatively small group, it shows clearly that
long-term cannabis smoking increases lung cancer risk," wrote Beaseley.
"Cannabis use could already be responsible for one in 20 lung cancers
diagnosed in New Zealand," he added.
"In the near future we may see an 'epidemic' of lung cancers connected with
this new carcinogen. And the future risk probably applies to many other
countries, where increasing use of cannabis among young adults and
adolescents is becoming a major public health problem."
