Up In Smoke…

WHO Estimates Tobacco Use Will Kill One Billion in 21st Century

In a report released today, Officials from the World Health Organization estimated that tobacco-related illnesses will kill more than a billion people worldwide in the 21st century. By comparison, tobacco-related deaths numbered 100 million in the 20th century.

It is estimated that the growth in the number of deaths will be due to population growth and targeted advertising by the tobacco industry in poor and emerging countries around the globe. Currently, nearly two thirds of the world’s smokers live in 10 countries–China, India, Indonesia, Russia, The United States, Japan, Brazil, Bangladesh, Germany, and Turkey.

WHO calls on governments of countries worldwide to raise taxes on tobacco, ban tobacco advertising, protect people from exposure to second-hand smoke, warn people about the dangers of using, help current users quit, and prevent the onset of use among teens.

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