That smoke was connected to the onset of several types of cancer - 17, to be precise - was known for some time, but the magnitude of the molecular damage inflicted by cigarettes to human DNA had never been precisely quantified.
Until today: by comparing the DNA of 2,500 smokers and 1,000 non-smoking cancers, researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (New Mexico, USA) were able to count how many genetic
mutations caused by this habit accumulate, in smokers, in the course of life.
THE COUNTS OF DAMAGES. The figures published in Science are frightening, they speak of an average of a genetic mutation in lung cell every 50 cigarettes smoked; and those who smoke a pack of 20 for one year, 150 accumulates mutations in lung cell, 97 for every cell of the larynx, the pharynx 39, 18 for each cell bladder and 6 for the liver (yes, the damage is extensive even well beyond the respiratory system).
RUSSIAN ROULETTE. Theoretically, every DNA mutation can potentially trigger a cascade mutations that can lead to the formation of cancer cells, but it is said that this happens. The probability that any mutation linked to smoking does cause cancer is not known, as no one knows what the most dangerous and malignant change.
There are in fact smokers who did not develop cancer, despite the thousands of accumulated genetic changes, but over time the odds of being struck by cancer increase.
IT IS NOT TOO LATE. The study's authors hope that their work on the new light jets of passive smoking damage or third-hand, as well as on the need to stop at all ages: smoking ceasing the alterations do not disappear, but even if they accumulate new ones. Scientific studies show that quitting before middle age, you can avoid all risks "extra" of deaths related to smoking that they would continue.
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