Tobacco kills almost six million people worldwide, whether they are active or passive smokers, and this represents 6% of the world population of women and 12% of the population of men. The association between tobacco and the risk of a specific cancer on the one hand and the global cancer risk on the other hand has been analysed in the EPIC European study (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition).
According to the conclusions of this study, women who smoke an excessive number of cigarettes a day have a higher risk of death if they also drink alcohol to excess than if they drank little or no alcohol.

Contact Inserm researcher: Marie Christine Boutron-Ruault

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