[Environmental pollution with tobacco smoke--a threat to human health. Principles for prevention of tobacco smoking]

Abstract

Tobacco smoking is an important pathogenetic factor for man, but it is underestimated in our country. The great spread of this factor justifies the term "tobacco epidemic". Three epidemiological surveys made in Cracow and in the country near Lańcut indicated that 37% of the people smoked tobacco: 42% in the city of Cracow and 29% in the country. In 9.7% of adult inhabitants of Cracow, 15.6% of the males and 5.0% of the females had symptoms of chronic bronchitis. In currently smoking men chronic bronchitis was found in 20%, five times more frequent than in nonsmokers, and in 12% of the smoking women, four times more frequent than in non-smokers. In rural inhabitants chronic bronchitis existed in 6.7% of dwellers of suburban villages and in 4.4% of residents of distant villages. In currently smoking men chronic bronchitis was found in 11.7% in suburban villages and in 6.3% in distant ones. This proves the synergistic influence of industrial and transport-related air pollution and cigarette smoke. The consequences of cigarette smoking were discussed: chronic bronchitis and emphysema, heart diseases, cancer of the lung, passive smoking. In antismoking action the most important aim is to protect the young people from initiation to smoking. In adults the decision to abandon smoking is very dependent on the intellectual level of the smoker. Antismoking propaganda must be conducted with great tact, and the advantages of quitting smoking should be emphasized.