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APPENDIX A
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF FULHAM
TOWN HALL.
FULHAM. S.W.6.
8th January, 1962.
To: The Chairman and Members
of the PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE-
Mr. Chairman and Members,
REPORT ON TOBACCO SMOKING AND
CANCER OF THE LUNG
1. Introduction
(a) In June 1957 the Minister of Health drew the attention of Parliament to a statement which
had been issued by the Medical Research Council on the relationship between tobacco smoking
and the risk of developing lung cancer.
(b) The Minister stated that the Government considered that the opinion of the Medical
Research Council should be brought effectively to public notice so that everyone would know the
risks involved, and that Local Health Authorities were asked to undertake publicity in their areas.
THE MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL'S STATEMENT
2. The Increase in Lung Cancer
For some years the medical profession has been concerned at the rapidly growing incidence
of lung cancer and in 1950 the Medical Research Council drew attention to the great increase in
the death rate from lung cancer during the previous 25 years. The death rate has continued to
increase since 1950 and in 1955 it was more than double that for 1945! (1945 - 188 per million of
population; 1955 - 388 per million population) .
The incidence is about six times higher in males than in females but lung cancer has
shown a similar increase among females.
There is no sign that the incidence of lung cancer has yet reached its peak.
3 . Causes of the Increase
The rapidity of the increase in lung cancer suggests some widespread factor in the
environment to which man has become exposed in the last 50 years (cancer takes many years to
develop after exposure to known cancer producing agents). The fact that the disease occurs among
all classes and both sexes rules out an occupational danger.
The location of the disease in the respiratory system suggests two possible factors:-
(i) Smoking of tobacco
(ii) Atmospheric pollution