1994, there were an estimated 153,000 deaths. This tragically high death rate has started to decrease in men but is still increasing in women. As late as the 1950s the disease was relatively uncommon in women, but by 1994 lung cancer replaced breast cancer as the number-one cause of cancer deaths in women in Canada.
In response to recent research evidence, environmental tobacco smoke has been classified as a Class A carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Non-smokers who are exposed to the toxic tobacco smoke of others are at greatly increased risk for heart disease, lung cancer and other health hazards.
Habitual use of smokeless tobacco is also threatening the lives of several million people in North America, especially young males. Without a doubt, chewing tobacco and dipping snuff can lead to the development of cancers of the mouth.
