The long term impact of smoking, from heart disease to a range of cancers, is well known. But according to research funded by the U.S. National Cancer Institute, the damage begins just moments after the first cigarette is smoked; chemicals which cause cancer from rapidly after smoking.
Researchers looked at the level of chemicals linked with cancer, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), in 12 patients after smoking. A PAH in cigarettes are modified by the body and turned into another chemical which damages DNA and has been linked with cancer. This process only took between 15 and 30 minutes.
Scientists involved in the study described the results as a stark warning to people considering smoking. Anti-smoking charity Ash (Action on Smoking and Health) said: “The chilling thing about this research is that it shows just how early a single cigarette. The process starts early but it is never too late to quit and the sooner you quit the sooner you start to reduce the harm.”
Picture Credit : Google