1993, there were an estimated 149,000 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 the late 1980s lung cancer replaced breast cancer as the number one cause of cancer deaths in women.
In response to recent research evidence, environmental tobacco smoke has been classified as a Class A carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency. Nonsmokers 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 the U.S., especially young males. Without a doubt, chewing tobacco and dipping snuff can lead to the development of cancers of the mouth.
