British M.P.’s Advised To Cut Down Smoking

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27911, 7 March 1956, Page 13

British M.P.’s Advised To Cut Down Smoking

(Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON. March 5. Research in Britain has shown that smoking may be a cause of lung cancer. according to the Minister of Health 'Mr Robert Turton). He advised heavy-smoking members of the House of Commons today to cut their own smoking. Answering questions about investigations by the Medical Research Council. Mr Turton said: “Benzpyrene. a substance known to be carcinogenic (cancer-causing), has been isolated in minute quantities both from cigarette smoke and from polluted atmosphere, but it has not been established this agent is one of

. the causes of cancer of the lung. t “Benzpyrene has been shown to be ■ carcinogenic to animals and must be f assumed to be carcinogenic to man.” the Minister said. e Benzpyrene could be derived not 1 only from tobacco smoke, but also from the smoke of the burning of wood, cel- - 1 lulose, petrol oil, and Diesel oil. Mr 1 ; Turton said. “What has been shown is that there - is a casual connexion between smoking ■ and lung cancer i “Therefore any wise member who I is smoking to excess would be well ad- - vised to cease so doing," the Minister f(added.