Smoking can cause gene mutation: experts

New Delhi, May 31 (UNI) If you think smoking will only cause cancer think again! Shocking as it may sound the addiction can be responsible for gene mutation which in turn drastically increases the risk of cancer and also impact future generations.

Besides, smoking leads to reduction of one minute of life in every minute of smoking.

In India, which has over 250 million tobacco users, more than 1 million deaths are caused by tobacco consumption.

According to experts both active and passive smoking, in all its forms -- cigarettes, bidi, cigar or pipes -- mutates tumor suppressing genes.

''Cancer producing genes oncogenes, which are present in all human beings grow unhindered if the suppressing genes mutates... Latest international studies have revealed that smoking is a major cause of DNA damage,'' said Oncologist P K Julka at awareness programme on 'World No Tobacco Day'.

Elucidating, Dr Julka, Oncology professor at AIIMS, said once the DNA is damaged it is irreversible.

''This is the most dangerous aspect of gene mutation. It is passed on to future generations. Not only is the person who is smoking at risk but even his future generations are likely to be born with some deformity,'' he added.

He said in smokers levels of epidermal growth factor receptor gene (ligandin) are increased which can lead to tumor cell growth.

''Mutations were less common in people who stopped smoking cigarettes less than 25 years ago,'' Dr Julka added.

Of the 8 to 9 lakh cancer patients 2 to 3 lakh are related to smoking, Dr Julka pointed and said 33.4 per cent of all cancer patients are men.

While an average cigarette reduces six minutes of life, 50 per cent of tobacco consumers ultimately die of disease related to tobacco.

Dr Julka said the most common form of cancer in metros was breast cancer among women and prostate among men.

Cancer of lungs, oral cavity (mouth), pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, pancreas, bladder and renal pelvis, nasal cavities, stomach and cervix are the most form of the disease.

Recommending ban on sale of tobacco products, cardiologist K K Aggarwal urged people to quit smoking to prevent cancer and related diseases.

''It is nicotine in tobacco which is addicting and responsible for cardiovascular complications and while tar in tobacco consumption can also cause early cataract and many eye disorders,'' he added.

UNI