title: [The effects of smoking on health: growth of knowledge reveals even grimmer picture].
abstract: - In this article we give a short overview of new insights into the effects of smoking on health, both on smokers themselves and on those who are exposed to other people's tobacco smoke.- The number of diseases and conditions that are known to be caused by active smoking has now risen to over thirty.- The risk of premature death is not, as previously thought, twice as high in smokers as in non-smokers, but actually three times as high.- Passive smoking too has been shown to have a whole range of negative effects on health.- Further, the causal mechanisms of, amongst other things, the development of cancer, ischaemic heart disease and nicotine dependence under the influence of smoking have been largely unravelled.- Various issues require further investigation; these include the effect of smoking on psychological health and the effects of 'third-hand' smoke. In the meantime, a concerted campaign against this consumer product with its deleterious effects of the health of the population is overdue.
authors.affiliation: Erasmus MC, Rotterdam.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Mackenbach
authors.forename: R A M
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Damhuis
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Been
mesh_terms: D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D000073869:Tobacco Smoking; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution