COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Researchers have asked the FDA to review and potentially prohibit filtered cigarettes, after recently publishing results of a review saying they may lead to a specific type of lung cancer.
The study, produced by researchers at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and published this month in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute said ties exist between filters on cigarettes and a type of lung cancer called adenocarcinoma. Study authors asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to regulate its use and to consider measures inclusive of prohibition.
“We can say with certainty that the ventilation holes affects how the tobacco burns. We can say with certainty that people take in more smoke from the cigarettes,” Peter Shields, co-author of the study, deputy director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at James Cancer Hospital and professor at Ohio State University, told CNN. “There is good evidence, but not with absolute certainty, that the smoke with more cancer-causing agents gets deeper to the lungs where adenocarcinomas more commonly occur.”
Researchers reviewed hundreds of published papers covering human, animal and smoking-machine studies. They came to certain conclusions regarding filtered cigarettes with ventilation holes.
To that end, researchers said, “The analysis strongly suggests that filter ventilation has contributed to the rise in lung adenocarcinomas among smokers. Thus, the FDA should consider regulating its use, up to and including a ban.”
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.