Cigars Instead?

Smoking one or twocigars a day doubles the risk of cancers of the lip,tongue,mouth,andthroat,according to a government study.

Daily cigars alsoincrease the risk of lung cancer and cancer of the esophagus,and increase therisk of cancer of the larynx(voice box)sixfold,say researchers at the National

Cancer Institu- tein Bethesda,Maryland.

In addition,the reportrevealed that smoking three or four cigars a day increased the risk of oralcancer to 8.5 times the risk for nonsmokers and the risk of esophageal cancer

by four times therisk of nonsmokers.

The health effectsof smoking cigars is one of eight sections of the article"Cigars:Health

Effects andTrends".The researchers report that,compared with a cigarette,a largecigar emits up to 90 times as much carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines.

"This articleprovides clear and invaluable information about the disturbing increase incigar use and the significant public health consequences for thecountry,"said Dr.

Richard Klausner,director of the National Cancer Institute,in a statement.

"The data areclear-the harmful substances and carcinogens in cigar smoke,like cigarettes,areassociated with the increased risks of several kinds of cancers as well asheart

and lungdiseases,"he added."In other words,cigars are not safe alternativesto cigarettes and may be addictive."

"To thoseindividuals who may be thinking about smoking cigars,our advice is-don't. Tothose currently smoking cigars,quitting is the only way to eliminate completelythe

cancer,heart andlung disease risks,"warned Klausner.

According to aNational Cancer Institute press release,there haven't been any studies on thehealth effects on nonsmokers at cigar social events,but“... a significant bodyof

evidence clearlydemonstrates an increased lung cancer risk from secondhand smoke."In the passagehow many cancers are mentioned in relation to smoking cigars daily?

A.Six.

B. Seven.

C. Eight.

D. Nine.