Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Automated Measurement of Pulmonary Emphysema and Small Airway Remodeling in Cigarette Smoke-exposed Mice
Published on: January 16, 2015
Passive smoking and pancreatic cancer in women: a prospective cohort study
Ying Bao1, Edward Giovannucci, Charles S Fuchs
1Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Background:
Active smoking is an established risk factor for pancreatic cancer, but the role of passive smoking in pancreatic carcinogenesis remains unclear. We aimed to examine whether environmental tobacco smoke is associated with pancreatic cancer risk.
Methods:
We prospectively examined 86,673 women in the Nurses' Health Study. History of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke was assessed through questionnaires in 1982. Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models.
Results:
During 24 years of follow-up (1982-2006), 384 women were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Maternal smoking significantly increased the risk of pancreatic cancer (RR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.07-1.89), whereas paternal smoking was not related to the risk (RR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.77-1.21). The risk associated with maternal smoking remained elevated, albeit not significant, among never smokers (RR, 1.52; 95% CI, 0.97-2.39). No association was found for adult passive exposure at work or at home.
Conclusions:
The positive association with maternal smoking suggests that environmental tobacco smoke, potentially in utero or in early life, may be associated with pancreatic cancer.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
Chronic Pancreatitis II: Pathophysiology
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Statistical Methods for Analyzing Epidemiological Data
