Ban on Tobacco Sales Could Prevent 1.2 Million Lung Cancer Deaths by 2095: Lancet Study
New Delhi: A new study published in The Lancet Public Health reveals that banning the sale of tobacco products to younger generations could prevent over 1.2 million lung cancer deaths by 2095.
The research emphasizes the significant potential of a tobacco-free generation strategy in reducing global smoking-related mortality, as tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable deaths, responsible for more than two-thirds of the 1.8 million lung cancer deaths worldwide each year.
The study, led by researchers from the University of Santiago de Compostela and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), used a first-of-its-kind population-based birth cohort simulation to predict the effects of banning tobacco sales to individuals born between 2006 and 2010. The findings suggest that such a measure could save 1.2 million lives across 185 countries by preventing 40.2 percent of the 2.9 million lung cancer deaths anticipated in this birth cohort by 2095.
The study also highlights the gender disparity in the potential benefits of this strategy. By banning tobacco sales, 45.8 percent of lung cancer deaths in men and 30.9 percent in women from this group could be avoided. The generational ban aims to eliminate smoking in future populations by gradually restricting access to tobacco products, thus drastically lowering smoking rates.
Dr Julia Rey Brandariz, the study’s lead researcher, stressed the critical nature of this strategy, stating, “Lung cancer is a major killer worldwide, and a staggering two-thirds of deaths are linked to one preventable risk factor — tobacco smoking. Our modelling highlights how much there is to gain for governments considering the implementation of ambitious plans towards creating a tobacco-free generation.”
The study underscores additional public health benefits, including reducing the burden on healthcare systems, which are strained by the treatment of smoking-related conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Despite these promising results, no country has fully implemented such a ban. New Zealand initially introduced legislation banning tobacco sales to those born after 2009, but the law was recently repealed, casting uncertainty on similar efforts elsewhere. The study concludes that comprehensive tobacco control policies and enforcement are crucial to achieving the long-term health benefits projected.