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More proof smoking damages DNA

01/16/2011 18:53:00 admin

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by Aimee Keenan-Greene

A new study published in the journal Chemical Research in Toxicology reveals chronic exposure to arsenic damages DNA and causes increased cell survival. Mutations in mitochondrial DNA may ultimately result in neoplastic transformation of human prostate epithelial cells.

The US Department of Health and Human Services says cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals and compounds, many are toxic and more than 70 are known to cause cancer. Nearly one-third of all cancer deaths every year are directly linked to smoking. Smoking causes about 85 percent of lung cancers.

Surgeon General Regina Benjamin explains that chemicals in tobacco smoke cause inflammation, cell damage, and weakens the immune system by raising the white blood cell count - keeping the body busy fighting the damage caused by smoking, and ignoring other infections or diseases.

The objectives of this new study were to investigate the effect of arsenic on cell proliferation/survival and genotoxicity, and to determine the effect of arsenic on the expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A (mtTFA) in human prostate epithelial cells, RWPE-1.

Arsenic is a known carcinogen, and its exposure is associated with cancers in multiple target organs including the prostate. Whether arsenic causes cancer by increased cell proliferation or cell survival is not clear. Additionally, mitochondria have been shown to play important roles in arsenic-induced DNA damage and carcinogenesis. But, the mechanism of mitochondrial involvement in arsenic-induced cancer is not clear.

Expressions of DNA repair genes ERCC6, XPC, OGG1, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger MnSOD was also altered in arsenic-exposed cells. Arsenic concentration-dependent increased expression of mtTFA and its regulator NRF-1 was observed in arsenic-exposed cells.

This means suggesting arsenic could regulate mitochondrial activity through an NRF-1-dependent pathway. This study also provides evidence that arsenic controls mitochondrial function by regulating mtTFA expression.

Just last month a report from the Office of the US Surgeon General said there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke.

"Casual smokers think they are improving their health by cutting back, but there is no safe level," Dr. Tim McAfee told CNN, . "It affects people's DNA immediately, and their heart and blood vessels literally seconds to minutes after being exposed."

McAfee is director of the Office on Smoking and Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He is one of 64 scientists who worked on the report. McAfee tells CNN all exposure to smoke is harmful, secondhand smoke is no less dangerous.

In Rhode Island, 53,000 children a day are exposed to secondhand smoke at home, according to The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Adolescents’ bodies are even more sensitive to nicotine, and teens are more easily addicted than adults, says Surgeon General Regina Benjamin. This helps explain why 1,000 teens a day start smoking nationally.

The tobacco industry spends 35 million dollars a year targeting Rhode Islanders. Over 2 million packs of cigarettes are bought or smoked by kids in the Ocean State each year, according to the Health Department.

USA Today says according to the Surgeon General report, about 40 million Americans smoke, that's 20% of adults and older teens. Tobacco kills more than 443,000 people a year.

That means smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-free kids.

They estimate there are 23,000 kids alive in Rhode Island right now, who will eventually die prematurely because of cigarettes.

The Surgeon General says smoking costs the country more than $193 billion a year in health care costs and lost productivity. In Rhode Island, the DOH estimates health care costs associated with tobacco use exceed $500 million annually.

Damage from tobacco smoke is immediate, but the benefits of quitting are as well.

Here's just some of the improvements your body makes:

Just 20 minutes after you quit:

Your blood pressure decreases
Your heart rate decreases
The temperature of your extremities increases

After 8 hours of not smoking:

The level of carbon monoxide in your blood drops to normal
The level of oxygen in your blood increases to normal

After 24 hours without a cigarette:

Your chance of heart attack decreases

A mere 48 hours after you stop lighting up:

Your nerve endings will start to regrow
Your ability to smell and taste improves

Today, Rhode Island is one of 29 states (Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico as well) that have passed smoke-free laws that cover restaurants and bars.

In other related news, researchers recently analyzed data from the 2001–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to see if where kids lived affected their exposure to second hand smoke.

Housing types included detached houses - including mobile homes, attached houses, and apartments. Children were between the ages of 6 and 18 years.

The results - children living in apartments had an increase in cotinine of 45 percent over those living in detached houses.

Of the overall 5000 children studied, 73 percent were exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke.
Scientists say multi-unit housing may be a significant source of secondhand tobacco-smoke exposure for children due to smoke seeping through walls, halls, stairways, or shared ventilation systems.

Smoking bans in multi-unit housing may be the answer to reducing children's exposure to tobacco smoke.

Ready to quit? Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW and get started with a smoking cessation plan today.

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