CIGARETTES AND CANCER

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29824, 17 May 1962, Page 18

CIGARETTES AND CANCER

Radium Found In Ash

(NZ. Press Assn.—Copyright) SYDNEY, May 15.

A new clue in the link between smoking and lung cancer has been discovered by two Sydney scientists. The scientists have found large quantities.'" of a cancer-produc-ing element, radium, in cigare'.’a ash.

The men are the professor of nuclear and radiation chemistry at the University of New South Wales. Pro. fessor J. H. Green, and an

analytical chemist, Mr E. T. Pallister. Professor Green said it had been found that radiation in cigarette ash was approximately 60 times that normally present in other substances taken into the body, such as food.

“It has been known for 50 years that radium is a factor in producing lung cancer. But to assess the exact significance of our findings ■we would have to find out how at.the radio-active product produced by the burning tobacco is actually deposited in the lungs. “A report of our findings so far has been sent to the Sydney City Council and to a scientific journal in London,” he said.

R.SA. Welfare Assistance. —Grants recommended by the welfare committee of the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association for the four weeks ended May 11 totalled £226 Bs. Fourteen applicants were granted £ 168 18s welfare assistance, and casual grants totalled £57