New smoking tar focus
July 1, 2011
DESPITE years of anti-smoking
campaigns, many smokers have
little understanding of the effect of
tar in their lungs, according to new
research by Pfizer.
Tar accumulation, one of the key
causes of lung cancer, presents
particular risks to smokers, however
the report found that 27% of current
smokers underestimate the amount
of tar inhaled into their lungs.
Interestingly, the report also
found that 72% of smokers
overestimated the volume of tar
inhaled, whilst only 31% of smokers
were aware of how quickly the
body can recuperate from tar
accumulation once they quit.
With nearly one in five cancer
deaths due to lung cancer,
researchers found that whilst
confusion over tar reigned supreme
in smoking circles, tar accumulation
was rated as the third most
significant reason smokers would
quit (76%), behind better health
impacts (87%) and high prices (81%).
During the study researchers also
turned up a rather worrying trend
whereby 33% of smokers admitted
to lighting up after viewing an antismoking
advertisement, whilst 29%
simply look away.
On a positive note, 18% of
smokers said they had decided to
take the plunge and quit in direct
response to an anti-smoking ad.
Meanwhile, to help clarify the
role tar plays in smoking and health
Pfizer Australia is launching a
‘Tarmy’ campaign, which features a
a collection of 10 figures placed in
prominent locations in Sydney and
Melbourne, which appear to be
covered in tar.
The figures will each represent a
a different smoker profile, from the
social smoker who has inhaled 288
grams of tar from weekend
smoking, to the heavy pack-a-day
lifelong smoker, who will have
inhaled a whopping 41kg of tar.
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