LONDON - A billion people will die from tobacco use and exposure in this century. That's according to a new study by the World Lung Foundation (WLF), that says tobacco-related deaths have almost tripled in the past decade.
In a report out Wednesday, the says 50 million people died from tobacco in the last 10 years. It is considered the number one killer in China, estimated to cause more than a million deaths a year. That number is expected to triple by 2030.
The report also looked at who is affected the most by smoking and tobacco. It shows that about 80 percent of people who die from tobacco-related illnesses live in low to middle-income countries. For example, 38 percent of male deaths in Turkey are smoking-related.
The WLF is also pointing a finger at big tobacco companies, accusing them of undermining efforts to get people to quit smoking. The report says they have stepped up their fight against anti-tobacco policies such as launching legal challenges and seeking delays in issues like legislation banning smoking in public places.
There does seem to be a worldwide push to curb tobacco use. More than 170 countries have signed up to a World Health Organization-led convention committing them to cut smoking rates, limiting exposure to second-hand smoke, and curbing tobacco advertising and promotion.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
SPECIAL REPORT | Thousands of child care center inspections reports are NOW AVAILABLE. Find out what inspectors founds inside day care centers across the state.
SPECIAL REPORT | When it's out of your hands, when your life is at the mercy of an armed, masked man staring down at you from the barrel of a gun in your own home, you grasp at whatever it is you can control; breathing, composure, or faith.
SPECIAL REPORT | ABC2 Investigator Joce Sterman has reviewed thousands of pages of documents for her Bad Medicine report.
It appears more and more young people may be sleepy at the wheel. A new study ties a lack of sleep to a significantly higher risk for crashes among young drivers.
Sunbathers this summer will find new sunscreen labels that are designed to make the products more effective and easier to use.
If you're hoping to get a jump start on your tan this summer, the Food and Drug Administration has a warning for you.