Philip Morris
Is Passive Smoking and Added Risk Factor for Lung Cancer in Chinese Women?
Fields
- Author
- Ho, Jhc
- Koo, L.C.
- Saw, D.
- Koo, L.C.
- Type
- PSCI, PUBLICATION SCIENTIFIC
- ABST, ABSTRACT
- BIBL, BIBLIOGRAPHY
- CHAR, CHART, GRAPH, TABLE, MAPS
- ABST, ABSTRACT
- Area
- DEMPSEY,RUTH/OFFICE
- Site
- E12
- Named Organization
- Univ of Hong Kong
- Research + Conference Grants Comm
- Hong Kong Anti Cancer Society
- Medical Faculty Research Grant Fund
- Research + Conference Grants Comm
- Request
- Stmn/R1-037
- Named Person
- Aquinas, M.
- Chan, C.
- Chan, K.W.
- Chan, W.C.
- Chow, A.
- Hou, L.
- Lam, T.
- Lam, W.K.
- Lau, G.
- Lee, N.
- Lo, K.K.
- Low, S.H.
- Mok, C.K.
- Tham, K.T.
- Tong, C.
- Wei, M.
- A, D.R.
- Koo, L.C.
- N, A.S.
- R, R.C.
- S, M.R.
- Chan, C.
- Master ID
- 2026223571/3912
Related Documents:- 2026223571-3590 Ets and Lung Cancer Scoth Review 940000 (Volume 1)
- 2026223591-3596 Time Trends in Lung Cancer Mortality Among Nonsmokers and A Note on Passive Smoking
- 2026223597-3600 Lung Cancer in Non-Smokers in Hong Kong
- 2026223601-3603 Passive Smoking and Lung Cancer
- 2026223604-3605 Lung Cancer and Passive Smoking: Conclusion of Greek Study
- 2026223606-3622 the Causes of Lung Cancer in Texas
- 2026223623-3643 Lung Cancer in Japan: Effects of Nutrition and Passive Smoking
- 2026223644-3656 Lung Cancer in Nonsmokers
- 2026223657-3663 Involuntary Smoking and Lung Cancer: A Case-Control Study
- 2026223664-3668 Smoking and Other Risk Factors for Lung Cancer in Women
- 2026223669-3672 Passive Smoking and Lung Cancer Among Japanese Women
- 2026223673-3681 Relationship of Passive Smoking to Risk of Lung Cancer and Other Smoking-Associated Diseases
- 2026223682-3691 Risk Factors for Adenocarcinoma of the Lung
- 2026223692
- 2026223693-3703 Lung Cancer Among Chinese Women
- 2026223704-3713 Marriage to A Smoker and Lung Cancer Risk
- 2026223714-3721 Measurements of Passive Smoking and Estimates of Lung Cancer Risk Among Non-Smoking Chinese Females
- 2026223729-3734 Smoking, Passive Smoking and Histological Types in Lung Cancer in Hong Kong Chinese Women
- 2026223735-3742 Passive Smoking and Lung Cancer in Swedish Women
- 2026223743-3769 the Relationship of Passive Smoking to Various Health Outcomes Among Seventh-Day Adventists in California
- 2026223770-3773 on the Relationship Between Smoking and Female Lung Cancer
- 2026223774-3776 Passive Smoking Is A Risk Factor for Lung Cancer in Never Smoking Women in Hong Kong
- 2026223777-3779 Passive Smoking and Lung Cancer in Women
- 2026223780-3788 A Case-Control Study of Lung Cancer in Nonsmoking Women
- 2026223789-3793 Passive Smoking and Cardiorespiratory Health in A General Population in the West of Scotland
- 2026223794-3800 Smoking and Passive Smoking in Relation to Lung Cancer in Women
- 2026223801-3805 Lung Cancer and Exposure to Tobacco Smoke in the Household
- 2026223806-3818 Epidemiology Studies of the Relationship Between Passive Smoking and Lung Cancer
- 2026223819-3825 Passive Smoking and Diet in the Etiology of Lung Cancer Among Non-Smokers
- 2026223826-3830 Association of Indoor Air Pollution and Lifestyle with Lung Cancer in Osaka, Japan
- 2026223831-3836 Lung Cancer Among Women in North-East China
- 2026223837-3842 Smoking and Other Risk Factors for Lung Cancer in Xuanwei, China
- 2026223843-3859 Carcinogenic Substances in the Environment Origin Measurement Risk Minimization
- 2026223860-3865 Passive Smoking and Lung Cancer in Nonsmoking Women
- 2026223866-3871 Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Lung Cancer Risk in Nonsmoking Women
- 2026223872-3881 Indoor Air Pollution and Lung Cancer in Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- 2026223882-3885 Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Female Lung Cancer in Guangzhou,China
- 2026223886-3893 Childhood and Adolescent Passive Smoking and the Risk of Female Lung Cancer
- 2026223894-3901 Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Lung Cancer in Nonsmoking Women A Multicenter Study
- 2026223902-3912 Kommissoin Reinhaltung Der Luft Im Vdi Und Din Krebserzeugende Stoffe in Der Umwelt Herkunft Messung Risiko Minimierung
- Author (Organization)
- J Exp Clin Cancer Res
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital
- Univ of Hong Kong
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital
- Litigation
- Stmn/Produced
- Characteristic
- ILLE, ILLEGIBLE
- MARG, MARGINALIA
- Date Loaded
- 05 Jun 1998
- UCSF Legacy ID
- dfe46e00
Document Images
I. Exp. C1in. Cancer Res.. 3. 3. 1984
Gt~
r*AkVA Tcs>
ts passive smoking and added risk factor, for liung
cancer in -Chinese women?
L.C. NGoo t' Pin,O., J.H-C. Ho` M.D., D.Sc:, F.R.C.P.,, F.Ri.C.R.,
D. Sauv' F.R.C.P.A., M.R.R.C. Path.
t Detxrrtmtnt of Communiry Afrdicirte, tfninenity ol Hong Kong, Hong Kong
s M. & H.D. Institute of Rudiolotlv, and Oncology. Queen: Elirabtnh Hospiral, lfong Kong
S,Sf. & MD. lnstirute of Pathology. Queen Efizo6eth 6lospttal, ffong Kong
2tx1 female lung cancer patients and 200 healthr district controls were inter-
viewed to identify and quantify, the various sources of passive: smoking among
Chinese: females In Niong, Kong. For the ever.smokers; passive exposure from
external sources did not appear to add' to their riuk. For the nevemmoken.
qualitative assessments (smoke expol eategorif:s, age when passive exposuree
started), and'' quantitatiire assessments (hours, years, lntensityJ' showed no si,
gtsificant differences between, the data for patients and controls. Moreover,
higher relative risks were not associated with higher leveis of passiive smoking
for the ever or never-smoken. Thus, our findings wouid seem, to indicate
that passive smoking, as an isolated factor, did, not have an influence on
female lung cancer incidence in Hong Kong..
Recently, there has been renewed di-
scussion on the possible ef fects of passive
smoking on lung,cancer risk (5, 8, 19).
In previous studit:s on the possibility of'
increased ri'sk of lung cancer among wi
ves/husbands from their smoking spott-
ses, the data (2. 9, 12, 16) were only basedd
on whether the spouse smoked (yes/no)
with no further qualifications on whether
the smoker actually smoked in the pre-
sence of the sub jet:t, and for how long~.
Where quantification n was done (5;
17, 1g), it was baseti' on the current spou,
se's smoking habits. It is well known that
the carcinogenetiic process of internal so-
lid cancers usually begins 20 or more years
before diagnosis when there might have
been no exposure from the current, sour-
ce. Furthermore, little account was taken
of changes in smoking habits or marria-
ge or the possibility of exposure from the
work environment., Some of these pro-
Received January 14', 1984.,
' To whom requests for reprints should be unt:
blems were raised' by Hammond and' Se-
llkoff (11) buit they have yet to be ad-
dressed by epidemiologicat studies to date.
Chinese females in Hong, Kong have an
average artnual agt:-standardlzetii inciden-
ce rate of 24.1/100,000 for lung cancer
(113). This is among the highest rates [or
women in t!he world. In ordk:r to more
directljr assess the possible role of passive
smoking in lung cancer deveiopment, a
retrospective study of 200 female lung
cancer patients and, 200 healthy district
controls was begun in 1!981. Hbng Koa¢;,
with an average urban, density of 28';0G0'i
inhabitants: per squtare kilometer, and 3'.
m" of average living space per person, is
one of' the most densely populated areas
in the world. It is; therefore, an appra
priate place to test the passive smoking
aetiological: hypothesis.
Patients and methods
The 200 lung cancer patients studied were from
the wards: or out.,patient departments of' 8 hospitalk
277'
N
I
i
1
4s`
~
~ :
i

.Ia .. . - . ,
+ ~t,~,,el~lgt~i.
tCuo L.C. ul afL
in Hong Kong. Patients wera lntervfewad atr thcy,
becatru5 available. Eiitht possible subjects were not
interviewed because' they were ttot, wfficiently, alert
to answer our questiorts: Attother l!' tiad i to be
excluded after interviews had' been (:aapleted, when
later, evidence and checking ' revealed that their lunag
tumours were secondaries and; not primarics. Medi-
cal records and radioaraphs were: reviewed' by /.H.,
C.H., and pathology sptroimens: were' verified by D3..
w,ith' her wlleat;ues. Where necessary; additional dia-
gltostic procedures were requested to complete the
data.,
Patients were matched with an equal nttmber of
healthy controls by, age straiif)cation (t S years)
in each district In = i4h and by, s(7cio+economic,
status. Conirols' were interaiewed, at their homes
within a, f'ew weeks afier their matched patients
had baen idt;ntified.
Two ferrwle research assistants, fluent in, Chinese
and En,llish, conducted the interv,iewt(' using a tape
rccor&r and, semi+struetured questionnaire. Wtiliziny
Interview techniques from the social, scienees espe-
cially thosu related to the gatherins of' life hislo
ries, thu interviewers were trained to probe for
detailt and eleboration, of' facts. Data were obtai-
ned on the changes in, residence patterns since birth
(where liived, how Ibn` how many toYether, what
type of housins. how many roorns)p occupational
history, (where worked what done:, level of pollu
tion, how lonp); active' smoking , (type of' tobacco,
method (+t smoking, and amount currently smoked
and at 10. 20. 30. 40. 50 or rtara years aYo and
inhalation prsctices):', passive smoking (from whom
what u)pe of toba4co, product, amount they proba-
bly smuWed' per dhy;. amount of time; of exposurc
when sropped, or chan(;ed1:, personal' and fumily' hi-
s(ori.s (a6e ot marriaQe, divone, separation, andJor
widowhuodk number oi :hildren, oceupations of' pa,
rcnts and spousc): etc. The', taped interviews weree
transcribed and then checked by (1.C.K. for points
that hud been left out, or for incronsistencies, e.g.
comparing passive smokin; exposures with nesldps, ''
tial and marriage histories. Where neeessary, su¢
jpcts were: recontacted' for fttrther' inforrnation. The
mean age of the patients w,as 611 years tS.D. 1'0.0)'
and that for the controls was 601years (S.D. 9.6s:
Rirsults
Histological distribu¢ion'.
The histolbgical distribution according
to WHO 2nd! Edition (20)' and basis of
diagnopis of' the patients are show°n in
Table I.
The predom'inantt cell type was adeno-
carcinoma, forming 34.5% of the'total sam.
plk, or 38% of those with histological t'y-
ping. However, when the frequencies o'f'
sqvamous plus sm'all celli types' are com-
pared with adenocarcinoma plus large
cells, the resulting, Kryberg ratto (6) of
1.16 still showed' a preponderance of the
former growp of' ttimours. This low rela,
tive frequency of adicnocarcinorna's in
Hong; Kong Chinese femalzs was also
fount!, byChan' and MacLennan (3'T.
Smoke exposure caiteguritss
From our lrlite'rvleWs', thirCe major regu+
tar sources of tobacco smoke were identi,
Table l Cr(( ryp,c+' und basiso/' diugnusis.
C6:11~cype,
S~quamoue~ Sma11.
ce('1~ idan-
cA^ ^^^-
, Grge~,
eelll Mixed Carclno:id~, Unei.e-
ent'led rocal.
No.. (.) '. No.. (1)~ No~.
lS)~. No~. (.') No,. (!7,) No.. (S), No. (L)! Fo. (S)I
aroncho.copi~c
blop>y'
Aasecc~.on
l:ympR.h r.cde
Pleur+l~~
26~ (1'J.O)
1(. )..0)~
9('. +.S)~
-
14 (.1..0).
7(~,3.5)~
. (~~ 2.06
1. ( OM
9~( 4..5)~
33
t0 (~. 5.0)
S(~ 2.5)
.( 2.0)
3(.1'.5)
2('. 1.01
2(: 1.0)
3(. 1.5)
3 (~, 1.5)
-
l (
03)
9~ (~ G~.5'.Y
1 ( 0',.5)'
-~
1 (', 0.5)
65~
6'2
25~
9
(.L".51i
(3'1,..)
(1'2~..5)~
('t.5)
Spucuo
cysolo,}y~
7~~ ( 3,3)
1'L ( S'.SY
12 (~ 6~ 0.)~.
1. ( 0~,.5):
-.
1 C o:,SD~
32~,
(16.0)
Itedtodugdcal~ S
c('tndca~l.
-
_~
-
7' ( 3:5'),
7~
( 3:5')1
Tuc..,t. 56 (2k~.o)i 37 (1ig~..5)~. 69~. (34'.5)~ 1'L (. s'..5) 7(, 3.S)i 1( 0.5')I 19! (
9,.5) 200 (100 ),
' f4j.le.Jao rruna0runehwf oluyvr.
278

s':W'!$ffii ,' K':'. .
"~`'-`
s .
Passive smoking risk in Chinese womtn."'
fied. In addition to ever-smokers (S), there ve smoking at home (H'). workplace ('W).
were those who had cohabiting relatives or' both' (HW) had RRs only marginally
smoking in their presence at home (Hk;.
or those daily exposed at their workplace
for a number of'years (VSr): In Fig. I three
intersecting circles have been dtawn to
Table Iil! Rtl riaks
carrY~ries.
f RRJ I Jrnr di IJerertr exposu re
shown seven possible categories and one " sl"x` `'"r°``'' INI
isolated circle (N) representing those who
had never bec:n' exposed to any of these
[xPPur..a,c.4arq,
.r.cd.nc'a concro't.
U
regular sources., Passive exposure' is dc
nuted by the shaded'' area. and includes o:ei~
sidiestream' smoke from home or work sa' _ 6? ~6 2.se
. ~ , a'Y
place. sNN'_ ts 2 3:9b
Tolsie whether this qualitative method N 22 4'a t.oo
of assessment would discriminate higher
risk groups, all patient's and controls we-
re fitted into each of these 8 different
smoke exposure categories and the odds
ratios were calcul'ateti' (Table II). If those
liming', none (N) rt:present'' the sta'ndard!
with a relative risk (RR) of 1.00, smokers
with no, other source o'f' exposure (S)' or
rnubtiplb sources (SH, S'W, SHM' had RRs
ra!neing from 2.56 to 5.45, whereas no'n=
smokers who were': only exposed to passi-
I
~ Ever smaked
i
.
.'
Passive e:;posure,at
$rruat;e . expurure, cuia.runra.
Tooat
. rat.{octrr eo.ptp.e.
tsp,o.ur.cacriory.
S:'n SH SL.f SNV
N r. 4~ NL
N
Tocal
' v s u,uvw!
Passive exvos'~ure a't ho'ar.e
., r
--'~,t"{C (l~l.ilce.
r#
~~..' .. .. . .~ . ...
~1. ., . .. . .
:oo
ruc.au
l12
66
22
No exposure cLain'ed
Z
1 C` w
8 g.
Gr h4Tj'7.
--- 279
lV v ll 00ut.
N o C~ mr(~
too
coocroD.
63
97
co'
ax
3.23'
1.24,
1.00
200
/
661 77
Z2 ~f ~
°t
2
I9

greater than h00 =(range 0:91-1.59),. When Since about 90% of the total amounts
smokers and those only passiively, ezposed, of passive smoking came from the hotne.
were grouped' (Table' IIB), the RR of acti Table IV shows the alerage' contribution
ve smokers was 3.23, and that for the' pas from each cohabiting relative who smoked
sive smokers a non-significant 1.24. in the presence ofthe subject. Only, ddirect
Qursntiliiccttion of passive smoking
Our detailed' interviews allowed' us to
est!imate the amounts of passive smoking
from various places in terms of hours or
years (Table III'), Smokers as a group
had more exposure to passive smoking
from others than the never-smokers. De-
pcnding on the unit of measurement, whe
ther hours or years, we found that among
the.smokers, the patients had more hours
of txposure, but the controls had more
years. A'mong, the never-smokers, the con-
tro15 actually had more hours or years
than, ttie' patients, but these differences
were minimal. Hours per year was used
as a measure of intensity of passive expo-
sure. ©xeralli there was no significant
difference in exposure levels between pa-
tients azld! controls, whether they were
smokers or never-smokers.
~
Table III - .Average accumulaeive passive tobacco
smok'e exposure by place.
e6r sor.r For navar-..or.r Table IV - Sourog' of passive exposure as home.
79 52 66 99
prciants controli,paci.ncs acncrol4~
;~
1. H.Dw
1:ours 22.773 21,.517
Y.~are 2D,7 31!.3
It. Voraplae
Hour.,
6352
1867
Yacrsi 3.6
.:~
..{
I21.-uca1 amounc.
tw.aa 26,703 23,385
Yearo. 30.0 32.6
nuura~rs~r956.6 717.3
136789~ 16,526
25.7 23L8
2~~.,121 1,6811
2.3 1.2
17,.662 20.057
261.4 26.3
677:1 762.6~
exposure was counted. Husbands who
smoked, but did not expose their wives
to passive smoking for various reasons,
such as living overseas, on travelling jobs;
etc., were not included in the estiittations.
From the Chinese cultural practice of ha-
ving extended familly members living to.
gether the female could be exposed to
her parents' cigarettes or pipe when young;
to her husband's and in-laws' tobacco du
ring; marital life, and to her children's ci-
garettes when old. Although in terms of
hours/personi parents 'were found to be
a, heavy source of sidestream smoke, only
it minority of patients or controls were
so exposed. The most frequent source was
that from the husbandl
About 2/3' of the total hours of tobac-
co exposure were calculated from our
data to be from the husband's ci-arettes:
Both cases and controls had an avera'ge
of about 20,000 hours of passitic smoking
from, their homes; so that no signi6i: ant
difference in exposure levels was found
between them.
A'vera8a cocal. aaou1r.
14'1patwc. ON.eonerols
No. itours/p.ri.oa :lo. HeursJp.raoo
liusbrndi I113 16;183' 11!l 19.314
B.rancsi 18. 27',994 21 27,7ti'
In-la.c 7 28,1'37 6 9,177
Ohlldr.n 24 3.604 33 4,170
Ocorrs 9 11,333 13 4,33'6
Awra6
for a11
215026
20,672
p < U.YU
' E:..r..icd pro,e 37 pulirnrs and 11 runfrols wi/l,,
out
l:"asive exposure.
280
"~'.'r~-,~r'w~"'1`"`. -'±r--"K'~~,~*',~"~,~ --w~*
~ ...--
~
M1S'+' t_'
v~"
c~
i ~:
M
trC
.
.
4 i
....-.. . , .
. . . . . ' . _ ... _ . . ~/..

,
Unlike the Louisiana study (5), we
found no association of an increase in
disk of lung cancer among current smo.
kers, ex-smo'kers, or never-smokers andI
material or paternal (yes/no) smoking,
habi!ts.
Passive smoking risk in Chinese women?
Table V I- RJt'_ ol ' lun g, cancer among nemer-smokers
by levrrs of puuive exposure.
9
C.wgocy .
Mctsc.
Ca6tsoLd
}t
t vatw
)ba. 22 40 1.00
tbv' 37 eit 1.29 1& 0..6
N18p=' . 9. 116'. 1.02 410.96
towi' y.r.tv. 66 ' 97 1.24 60.49
Sunoking, history and' histology
' S 33.UO0 hours
Annong, the ever-smokers, there was a"> 3s.ooo hours
predom!inance of squamous and small cell
types of lung, tumours, whereas the op-
posite posite pattern of a predominance of' ade-
nocarcinomas was found for those passi-
vely exposed and the N category (Table
V). There was no significant difference
in cell type distribution between' the pas-
sively exposed' women and those with no,
regular exposure. The predominance of'
:nocarcinomas in the never-smoked
women as a group, regardless of their
passive smoking history, has been repor-
ted elsewhere ('1, 4, 10).
Table V- Smoking hislory, und histoJoYy,.
C.ll~~ cyip.~...
SsoLtnBM1lucory,
SQv..ow.r
Si.ll C.ll
Ad.nocaner.noea...
L.rg. f.li1
Cva ~.sot.d 647.~.(61/96)~ 36% (34Y95'.):
lr.rtW.~.wkin8 i21~.(25159)~. $81 (34/59.)'~.
Hoo. 37L~.(I7/19)~. 6Ji (12J19)i
Risk among never-smokers
We have earlier shown that the average
total amount of hours or years of passi.C'
smoking amon!g, the never-smokers wass
not significantly different between pa-
tients and controls. We also did not findi
a higher RR among patients witll, passive
exposure levels of > 3Si4U0 hours (3 hours.
12 trlin./day x 30 years) than thu-_- wiithi
luwer exposures (Table VI).
It is possible that the bronchial mu-
cosa-s is more susceptible to carcinogenss
before adulthood than ltlter in life. Table
VTI summarized our data on age when
passive exposure' started for the never-
smokers. There was no significant diffe+
rence between patients and controls in
their ages at first exposure. In fact, there
were more controls who,had been exposed'
before the agF of 20 years than their mat=
ched patients: Thus our data were unable
to substantiate the possibility raised, by
Doll' and Peto (7) that a life-long, exposure
(including childhood) may have four tli,
mes the effect of exposure which is li-
rnited to adult life y.
Trbte Vil - Age pnssive erpoaure siur(rd /or nevrr-
smokers.
r.cdanu. Concrols
Ke
No.
(Z)'M
tlo.
(.)~
0
20~ - 191
- 39~. 13
42 (2]D
(6t,) 30
50 ~. (31')~.
(5=)~.
G0ir 9 (1;) 17' (1d).
Towl, 66 97 '
Av.rr`e a8* 36.6' 34.3.
PS0.1U.
Risk for ever-s»tokers
It is well established that n(lt (,dl' su7ru-
kers, not even heavy ones, will develop
281

<.,
. .. . . ..~. ~~ - k i. ~. . _ . . .. . _ -.,.
AW ~ t..C.. r.t'~. OfL
lung', cancer. To see if' passive smoking
adds risk to active smokers, the risks for
lighr smokers (< 100 kg tobacco' or 1/4'
pack years), with low or no passive expo-
sure (< 15,000 hours or 1S hours/day x.
30 years) and those' smoking, similar,
amounts but with, heavy passive smoke
exposures. were compared (Table VIIII).
The same comparison was applied also to
the heavy smokers (> 100 kig or 14 pack
years). We found not only no increase but
an actual decrease in the risk for both
light' and heavy smokers with heavy pas-
sive exposure compared to, those with no
or low exposure. There was only, an, irtcrea-
se in the risk related to the levels of theirr
own cigarette consumption. This result
was also found by Correa et a'1: (S);.
Table Vtllil - RR lor smuksrr with und' witJiuut
pussiLw ex~poiure:
Tryp. t,6eL.nes ConeroLr L1l
tSgho smok+rrtOch,
lbv: or no~.aaposur., 1'~b
esgp'c cmokerr vbch
h\av"/J~ s~~U,~LL[i ~
Naavy, .wk.raa'vtth,
lovior~no .aposur.~,
«~.
Nravn..ook.ro~vurh~
19 t.00
1;7 0.:c
lY. J.62
h.avy..xpo.vr., L'SI U
2'.61.
Toca i. 1'12: 63
' s 10(1 kji , tobuccu
'' < 11000 hours > t00ik`,tobarru
" >_ 15,000' hours'
©iscussion'
In this retrospective study on the por
sible in!iluemce of passive smo'king', on che
high, incidence of liang, cancer in Hong
Kong Chinese females, we have attempted
to identify andi quantify various sources
and typas of tobacco exposure among 200
patients and' 200' district controls. We have
l'imioed ouir data presentation to show on-
Iy rh'o~.c (.,ctors relevant to the issue of
passive _,+iiul:inb: A more detailed descrip-
tion and. discussion of' active smoking as
282
a risk factor was presented elsewhere (15'),
The apparent lack of an' association
benveen, passive smoking and the risk off
lung. cancer in our study may, be due to
possibilities which occur because pa;ssine
smoking may be only a very weak carci-,
nogen, whose effect may be concealed by
other factors that play a role in a mul'ti-
facto'rial and' mul!tistage aetiology, Among,
the female never-smokers, intervening
factors might cause an overshadowing or
a protet:tive' effect (e.g. bronchial irrilta-
tion, dietary nitrosamines or beta,carote-
ne): These factors in Hong, Kong ace li,
kely to be different from, those in Japan
(112),, tU.SA. (9; 16), or Greece (117; 18), and
this difference may explain our d'ifferentt
results. The possibility that the a d'ose-re-
sponse curve resembles a ltngistic in sha-
pe , such that t there is a dose- greater
than zero which produces zero rt:sponsa D
was considered by Hammondi and Seli-
koff (i11). and'i may be: operating hert..
Certainly the lack of an increased risk
for the' active smokers from passive stno-
king; which was' also found by Co'rre:, et
al. (S). Would seem to support the pessi-
bility that the effects of active smoking
or, indeed, other factors yet to be iden-
tified, greatly overshadowedi the carcino-
gen!ic action of passive smoking.
This however, dbes not iinply thac ras-
sive smoking is innocuous, as it may con-
tribute an added risk of'othzr respiraitcry,
and cardiovascular diseases (8, 14', 16).
The possibility of other factors like diet.
previous history of respiratory diseases,
occupational exposures, use of' inhalants,
etc., overshadowing or inhibiting the et-
fects of passive smoking on, the risk of
lung cancer among never-smoked females
in Hong Kong and also' the roles of' these
factors in the carcinogenesis are being'
investigated.
I't is hoped that more direct a'sstss,
ment ot' passive smoking by orher «or:
kers in other areas can' shed mo're aghit
on the passive smoking controversy.

AkrrowfldYemants'
We wish to esptnsa our gntisudt aod thanks to the
(ollowing insututions andl individuals fur their help
in this proieet: the Hong Kong Anti-Ctncer Soa:iety:
and the Researcls and Conferettce Grants Committee
and the Medical Faculty Research Grant Fund of
the Unineraity, of Hong' Kong for Gnancir,ll support;
Professor C.K. Mok. Dn: W.K. Lam. K.K. Lu, Mry
Wci; W:C. Chan, L. Hou. S.H. Low. K.W. Chrn
and K.T. Tham and' Siater M. Aquinas for, theirr
advict and help; Mr: C. Chan,, his. C: Tong and
Ms. N. Lee for help in data. collection and analy-
ais: and Ms. G. Lau. Mrs., T. Lam and! %41t: A.
Chow for secretarial assistanue.
References
1. Chan, W:C:. Colbourne M.J.. Fung S.C.. Ho H.
C.:: Bronchial cancer in Hqng Kong 1976~.1y77'.
Br. /. Cancer, 39:: 1!82t92, 1979,
2. Chan W.C Fung SC.: Lung cancer in non-
smokers in Hong Kong. In: Grundmann E. (Ed.).
Crncer Campaign, vol. 7. Cancer Epidrmiology.
StuttgartJNew Y'ork: Gustav Fischer Verlag,, 199.
201. 1982.
3. Chan W.C.. fWacLennaa R.: Lung c:mcer in
Hong Kong, Chinese: mortality and hiainlogical
typcs; 1960:1972:, Br. I. Cancer, 35: 226-231.
1976.
4. Cuoper D.A.. Crane A.R.. Boucot K.R.: Pti-
mrry carcinoma of the lung in nonsmokers.
Arch. Environ. Hbaith. 16: 398-.s00., P96x.
5. Correa P.. Pickle Ii.W:. Fontham. E.. Lin Y.,
Hacnszel W:: Passive smoking and lung cancer.
Lancct, ii: 595-597; 1'983.
o. Doll R.. Hill A.B.. Kreyberg', L.: The signifii-
cance of cell type, in relation to the, acuology
of lung cancer: br. I: Cancer. tt: 43--ttt. 1957,.
7: Doll R.. Peto R.: The causes ol', trnccrc quan-
titative estimates of avoidable risks ut cancer
in the United, States today. L, Nau C.nccr linst..
66: 1192-1308, 1981.
Passilvc stnokina risk in Chinese women?'
8. Editorial: Pauive stnoking: Forest. Gasp and
facts. Lant:et, i: 34&349, 1982.
9; Garftnkel La Time trends in lung cancer mor
tality among ttoa-smokers and a note on pas-
sive smoking. 1. Nat. Cancer Jnst:, 66: 10611-
1066; 1981.
10. Green I.?.. Brophy P.: Carcinoma of' the lung
in nonsmokina Chinese women. West. (: Mcdl.
136: 291494. 1982:
tl. Hammond E.C., Selikoff LJ.r Passire smoking
and l lung cancer with comments on two new
papers. Environ. Researsh, 24: 444-452; 1981.
12. Hirayama Tu Non-smoking wives of heavy smo-
kers have a higher risk of lung cancer: a study
from Japan. Br, Mcd. 1.. 282: t83+185; 198L
13. Ho ).H.C., Chan C.L.. Lau W.H., Au G.K.H:,
Koo L.C:: Cancer in Hong Kong: some cpide,
miological obsernations. Natl! Cancer Inst: ktt}
nogr:, 62: 4743, 1982.
1+4: Hugod C.. Hawking L.H.. Astrup P.: Exposure
of passive smokers to tobacco smoke : eonui+
tuenta. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health, 42:
21-29. 1978.
15. Koo L.Cc, Ho J.H.C.. Saw D.: Active and pas-
sive smoking among ftmale lung cancer pa-
tinnts and control in Hon;l Kong. f: Exper. sr
Clin. Cancer Rrsearch.,*: 367-375; V983.
16. Miller G.H.:, The Pennsylvania study on pu.-
sive smoking4 .1. of Brea[hing, i l: i-9: 1978.
17. Trichopoulos D.. Kalandidi A.. Spnrros L.. Mac
Mahon B:: Lung cancer and'. passivc smoking;
Int, 1: Cancer 27: li. 1981.
18. Trichopoulos D.. Kalandidi A.. Sparros L.: Lung
cancer and passive smoking: conclusion of Greek
study,. Lancet, iii 677-678; 1983.,
19: U.S. Department of Health and Human Servi-
ces: The health consequences of smoking: Can-
cer: a~ report of the Surgeon General. WashinQ-
tonl D:C.: U.S. Public Health Srrvicc. 1982.
20. World, Health Organization: The World Health
Organization liistological' typing of' lung tumourn.
2nd Edition. Am. I. Clin. Path:, 77: 123-136,
1982.
283'
!
i'.
I
I
{
i
z;
f
r
