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Secondhand Smoke Found to Cause Cancer in Cats
by Elaine Nettleton

A study recently conducted by Tufts University School of Veterinary
Medicine (TUSVM) and University of Massachusetts (UM) researchers has
revealed that cats living with people who smoke are more than twice
as likely as other cats to develop feline lymphoma.

To find out if secondhand smoke was causing cats to get cancer, the
researchers studied 180 that had been treated at the Tufts University
Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals between 1993 and
2000.

The results, which were published in the American Journal of
Epidemiology, showed cats that had lived with a smoker for more than
five years were three times as likely to develop feline lymphoma. In
addition, cats that lived with two smokers were found to be four
times as likely to develop the disease.

According to UM epidemiologist Dr. Elizabeth R. Bertone, who
participated in conducting the study, the lymphoma most often
developed in cats' gastrointestinal tracts and nasal passages. This
suggests that the cancers were caused by particles with which the
animals came into contact while breathing and licking their fur.
TUSVM veterinarian Antony Moore, who also took part in conducting the
study, expressed his hope that the results would convince some people
to quit smoking.

"I think there (are) a lot of people who might not quit smoking for
themselves or their family, but they might for their cats," said Dr.
Moore.

© 2002 Animal News Center, Inc.

Posted on SHARE Yahoo group Aug�30,�2002