Half of all women who smoke will die from tobacco-related causes, more than people who are killed by alcohol, car accidents, murders, illegal drugs, suicides and fires combined. Since 1986, more women have died each year from lung cancer than from breast cancer. On average, a smoker loses 15 years of life.
Studies indicate that non-smokers are adversely affected by environmental tobacco smoke.
Researchers have identified more than 4,000 chemical compounds in tobacco smoke. Of these, at least 43 causes cancer in humans and animals.