First German Tobacco Atlas - A new handbook, released by the German Cancer Research Center, puts the spotlight on the societal and health effects of tobacco use in Germany
Northern Germany has more smokers than the South - and more people die there as a consequence of smoking. The differing number of males who died due to lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases, clearly demonstrate this regional difference. This is shown for the first time in the Tobacco Atlas 2009, a handbook edited by the German Cancer Research Center in close collaboration with the German Ministry of Health and the Robert Koch Institute.
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Sabine Bätzing, Drug Commissioner of the Federal Government, says: “Nowadays smoking is the most avoidable health risk. Nevertheless, almost one third of the German population smokes. This is a good enough reason to release the first German Tobacco Atlas with all facts as to smoking. The vast regional differences in smoking habits and tobacco related mortality clearly demonstrate the need for tobacco prevention to continue to be on top of the political agenda.”
The Chairman and Scientific Director of the German Cancer Research Center Prof. Otmar D. Wiestler declares: “Informing the public comprehensively about the number one risk of cancer is one of the top priorities of the German Cancer Research Center. The Tobacco Atlas offers a quick and comprehensive overview to the societal problem of tobacco use in Germany. It is a clearly arranged handbook for political decision makers, government officials, journalists and health professionals.”
The Tobacco Atlas gives a comprehensive overview of the smoking habits in Germany. Using illustrative maps and graphs, complemented by short concise texts, it not only shows differences on regional level, but also illustrates the differences related to social determinants, gender and age, as well as the subsequent regional effects on tobacco related mortality. It also describes the variety of tobacco products, their additives and characteristics, as well as the consequences of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke. Additionally, the handbook gives an insight to the individual and societal costs of tobacco smoke, and provides an overview to tobacco plantation, production, trade and distribution.
The Tobacco Atlas also presents a wide range of effective tobacco control measures, which were agreed and adopted in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. By 2009 this international treaty has been signed and ratified by over 160 nations -- including Germany. The handbook highlights which measures need to be implemented in Germany in order to fully comply with the convention. The vast regional differences in smoking habits and tobacco related mortality suggest the need for the development and implementation of measures directed to the respective regional requirements.
Reference:
- The Tabacco Atlas is available as a PDF file for download at http://www.tabakkontrolle.de
- Journalists will receive the handbook free of charge at the Press Office of the German Cancer Research Center at presse@dkfz.de
- The “Tabakatlas Deutschland 2009” has been published at the Steinkopff-Verlag (ISBN: 978-3-7985-1882-7) and is available at the German book trade for 19,95 €.
For further information also visit the website http://www.drogenbeauftragte.de
With more than 3,000 employees, the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) is Germany’s largest biomedical research institute. DKFZ scientists identify cancer risk factors, investigate how cancer progresses and develop new cancer prevention strategies. They are also developing new methods to diagnose tumors more precisely and treat cancer patients more successfully. The DKFZ's Cancer Information Service (KID) provides patients, interested citizens and experts with individual answers to questions relating to cancer.
To transfer promising approaches from cancer research to the clinic and thus improve the prognosis of cancer patients, the DKFZ cooperates with excellent research institutions and university hospitals throughout Germany:
The DKFZ is 90 percent financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and 10 percent by the state of Baden-Württemberg. The DKFZ is a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers.
