From: an2531@anon.penet.fi (/dev/high)
Subject: Re: Fuck nicotine
Organization: Anonymous contact service
X-Anonymously-To: alt.drugs
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 17:38:18 GMT


X-Anon-To:alt.drugs

I saved that cigs and radioactive article, don't remember
who originally posted it.

/dev/high

+++++++++++++++++++++
So, you thought it was the tar that caused cancer...


     Think again.  Cigarette companies will have you believing
anything just as long as you continue to buy their products.  The
fact is, although insoluble tars are a contributing factor to the
lung cancer danger present in today's cigarettes, the real danger
is radioactivity.  According to U.S. Surgeon General C. Everette
Koop (on national television, 1990) radioactivity, not tar,
accounts for at least 90% of all smoking related lung cancer.
     Tobacco crops grown in the United States are fertilized by law
with phosphates rich in radium 226.  In addition, many soils have
a natural radium 226 content.  Radium 226 breaks down into two long
lived 'daughter' elements -- lead 210 and polonium 210.  These
radioactive particles become airborne, and attach themselves to the
fine hairs on tobacco leaves.
     Studies have shown that lead 210 and polonium 210 deposits
accumulate in the bodies of people exposed to cigarette smoke.
Data collected in the late 1970's shows that smokers have three
times as much of these elements in their lower lungs as non
smokers.  Smokers also show a greater accumulation of lead 210 and
polonium 210 in their skeletons,though no studies have been
conducted to link these deposits with bone cancer.  Polonium 210 is
the only component of cigarette smoke which has produced tumors by
itself in inhalation experiments with animals.
     When a smoker inhales tobacco smoke, the lungs react by
forming irritated areas in the bronchi.  All smoke produces this
effect.  However, although these irritated spots are referred to as
'pre-cancerous' lesions, they are a perfectly natural defense
system and usually go away with no adverse effects.  Insoluble tars
in tobacco smoke can slow this healing process by adhering to
lesions and causing additional irritation.  In addition, tobacco
smoke causes the bronchi to constrict for long periods of time,
which obstructs the lung's ability to clear itself of these
residues.
     Polonium 210 and lead 210 in tobacco smoke show a tendency to
accumulate at lesions in specific spots, called bifurcations, in
the bronchi.  When smoking is continued for an extended period of
time, deposits of radioactivity turn into radioactive 'hot spots'
and remain at bifurcations for years.  Polonium 210 emits highly
localized alpha radiation which has been shown to cause cancer.
Since polonium 210 has a half life of 21.5 years, it can put an
ex-smoker at risk for years after he or she quits.  Experiments
measuring the level of polonium 210 in victims of lung cancer found
that the level of 'hot spot' activity was virtually the same in
smokers and ex-smokers even though the ex-smokers had quit five
years prior to death.
     Over half of the radioactive materials emitted by a burning
cigarette are released into the air, where they can be inhaled by
non-smokers.  In addition to lead 210 and polonium 210 it has been
proven that tobacco smoke can cause airborne radioactive particles
to collect in the lungs of both smokers and non-smokers exposed to
second hand smoke.  Original studies conducted on uranium miners
which showed an increased risk of lung cancer due to exposure to
radon in smokers have been re-run to evaluate the radioactive lung
cancer risk from indoor air radon.  It turns out that tobacco smoke
works as a kind of 'magnet' for airborne radioactive particles,
causing them to deposit in your lungs instead of on furniture.
(Smoking indoors increases lung cancer risks greatly.)
     It has been estimated that the total accumulated alpha
radiation exposure of a pack-a-day indoor smoker is 38 to 97 rad by
age 60.  (Two packs a day yields up to 143 rad, and non-smokers
receive no more than 17 rad.)  An exposure of 1 rad per year yields
a 1% risk of lung cancer (at the lowest estimate.)
     Don't smoke.  Or if you do, smoke lightly, outdoors, and
engage frequently in activities which will clear your lungs.
Imported India tobacco has less than half the radiation content of
that grown in the U.S.
     Kicking the nicotine habit is not easy, and nobody has the
right to expect it of you.  Often physical addictions are
reinforced by emotional and psychological needs.  Filling or coming
to terms with those needs can give you the inspiration and added
freedom to succeed.
     Most of all, inform yourself, even if the information is
disturbing.  You are a lot less likely to be taken in by tobacco
advertising once you know the facts.


     Nicotine, the active ingredient in tobacco smoke, has long
been known to be highly addictive.  In fact, doctors and
pharmacologists are not in consensus as to which is more addictive
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