Evidence and overview of global tobacco problem

Tobacco use, both smoking and chewing, is a very old habit. Machine-made cigarettes appeared early in this century. As a consequence, lung cancer increased substantially. The evidence relating cancer to smoking and chewing is summarized. Various forms of tobacco use are briefly described. Tobacco exports are an important source of hard currency for some developing countries. In the Western world, seven major international companies control major market shares. In contrast, tobacco monopolies exist in eastern Europe, Japan, and China. The public health interests are represented by the relevant national and international associations and some governments. Smoking is the largest cause of avoidable death in developing countries after infectious disease and malnutrition.