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• A Smoking Gene: deCODE Shows How a Single Variant in the Sequence of the Genome Confers Nicotine Dependence and Risk of Lung Cancer and Other Disease 

Today scientists from deCODE genetics and their colleagues from several universities report in the journal Nature a clear link between a single-letter variant in the sequence of the human genome (SNP) and susceptibility to nicotine dependence. Moreover, in part because of this impact on smoking behavior, each copy of the risk variant of this SNP confers an approximately 30% increase in risk of lung cancer and a 20% increase in risk of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) . . .

The SNP, rs1051730, is located on chromosome 15q24 in a nicotine acetylcholine receptor called CHRNA3. The paper, 'A variant associated with nicotine dependence, lung cancer and peripheral arterial disease,' is published today in the online edition of Nature, at www.nature.com.

"These findings provide an example of the power of human genetics for shedding light on the most complex health challenges. . . .

The deCODE team began this study with a smoking history questionnaire distributed to some 50,000 Icelanders

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• Genetic link for lung cancer identified  

Amongst smokers, genetics may raise the risk of lung cancer by 80%.

Three independent genetic studies have found some of the strongest evidence yet that your genes influence your risk of developing lung cancer.

Lung cancer, the most common killer cancer in the world, is largely caused by smoking. Tobacco is thought to be responsible for about 5 million premature deaths every year and smoking is still clearly the largest risk factor. But the new results suggest that, amongst smokers, some people may be as much as 80% more at risk than others thanks to their genes.

People who have never smoked might also have a slightly increased risk of developing lung cancer and similar problems, although the three studies disagree on whether this is actually the case. It is not clear whether the genetic effect occurs independently of smoking, or whether the genes raise the risk of cancer by exacerbating nicotine addiction. . . .

A third study3, involving almost 6,000 cancer cases and led by Christopher Amos of the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, also found that the gene variants raise cancer risk independently of smoking behaviour.

Stefansson, in contrast, believes that the genes promote cancer by making people more vulnerable to nicotine addiction. This view is supported by the fact that the genes for the brain's nicotine receptors are found in the same region of chromosome 15 as the genetic mutations.

People in Stefansson's study group tended to be more heavily addicted to smoking if they had more copies, or 'alleles' of the gene variants. "In our study, we found if you have one allele you smoke about one more cigarette per day; if you have 2 alleles you average two more cigarettes per day," he says.

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• Genetic link tied to smoking addiction 

WASHINGTON - Scientists say they have pinpointed a genetic link that makes people more likely to get hooked on tobacco, causing them to smoke more cigarettes, making it harder to quit, and leading more often to deadly lung cancer.

The discovery by three separate teams of scientists makes the strongest case so far for the biological underpinnings of the addiction of smoking and sheds light on how genetics and cigarettes join forces to cause cancer, experts said. The findings also lay the groundwork for more tailored quit-smoking treatments.

"This is kind of a double whammy gene," said Christopher Amos, a professor of epidemiology at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and author of one of the studies. "It also makes you more likely to be dependent on smoking and less likely to quit smoking." . . .

For Stefansson, the research hits home. His father, a smoker, died of lung cancer. And Stefansson, who doesn't smoke, frequently lectures his 23-year-old daughter "who smokes like a chimney." She acts like she is immortal and smoking can't kill her, Stefansson said. But his own research shows that her genes are probably stacked against her.

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Middleton City Council To Consider Smoking Ban  

Another Wisconsin community is moving a step closer to passing a smoking ban.

Middleton currently allows smoking at places, but on Tuesday night, the city council took input from the public about the issue of potentially going smoking free, WISC-TV reported.

The council then voted unanimously to have its city attorney draft a no-smoking ordinance as the first step.

Some local tavern owners said that they'd prefer a statewide ban.

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Nathan P. Murphy's recognized for no-smoking policy 

Nathan P. Murphy's owner Bob Martin this morning received recognition for implementing a policy to eliminate smoking at the downtown club.

Breathe Easy Springfield presented Martin with an award for protecting his customers, employees and entertainers from secondhand smoke. Breathe Easy says the club is the first downtown music venue to do so, according to a news release.

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North Charleston smoking ban  

Two North Charleston City Council Members would like to see a proposal for a smoking ban in the city. One tells us what they have in mind. We'll also hear from business owners who fear a ban will hurt their business. Plus a former South Carolina and North Charleston police chief weighs in about the long-reaching arm of government.

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Revenue At Colorado Casinos Drops After Smoking Ban 

Revenue at casinos in Colorado's three gambling towns was down 10 percent in February, though officials said it's too early to tell if a new smoking ban is to blame.

A statewide smoking ban was extended to the state's 40 casinos on Jan. 1 and the drop in revenue was noticed the following month. However, revenue in other gambling states has also dropped, including Nevada -- home to Las Vegas -- which has seen a 5 percent drop.

While casinos suspect smoking may have had some effect, other causes also could be fears of a recession and a cutback in discretionary spending as well as soaring gas prices that make trips to the mountains more expensive.

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American Legion outlaws smoking at Post  

One of the last bastions of indoor smoking has disappeared in Adams as American Legion Post 160 abolished the practice a month ago.

"We had been kicking this idea around for a long time," said Post Commander Ralph Swartzer. "Once they started banning it in different communities and towns we looked at it. Then they banned it in bars and eventually the consensus was in favor of social change. We had more non-smokers than smokers anyway because of the health issues and the fact that people are more educated and worldly."

When the post sent out a postcard survey to all 292 members, the response was 2:1 in favor of the ban, but it wasn't without consequence. . . .

Selectmen and post member Donald Sommer said he had hoped the board of health would take the decision out of their hands.

"In fact we went to the Board of Health a couple of times and asked them to get smoking knocked off in all establishments that have a commercial liquor license," he said. "We have a commercial license, not a club license. They refused to do that."

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Bibb approves smoking cessation aid package 

Bibb County commissioners approved a voluntary smoking cessation program in a 5-0 vote Tuesday that helps employees kick the habit with taxpayer money.

Through the program, county employees who want to quit smoking or stop using smokeless tobacco products are eligible for up to $400 of prescription drug benefits that can be used to purchase a host of nicotine replacement medication, including nicotine patches, gum or pills.

In addition to the $400, the cessation plan also will provide coverage for six counseling sessions, according to county documents.

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Lawmakers postpone smoking ban debate 

A deeply divided House-Senate committee Tuesday put off action on indoor smoking ban legislation until after the April 22 primary.

The six members of the conference committee are charged with crafting a compromise on limiting smoking indoors and in public places, but they disagree on both substantive and procedural issues.

The members spent much of a 90-minute meeting discussing how House rules adopted in February 2007 limit their ability to discuss smoking ban proposals outside a public meeting room.

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Mixed results after year of smoking ban in Wales 

Pubs in parts of Wales are considering closing their doors on week nights as they continue to struggle with the impact of the smoking ban.

The ban was enforced in Wales a year ago today and John Price, secretary of the Wales LVA and licensee of the Bush Hotel in Blaenclydach, Rhondda said it has damaged the trade beyond repair.

He said: "A lot of our pubs are talking about closing their doors for three nights a week and only opening at weekends. . . .

But Alan Rohman of The Brunswick, a food-led pub in Swansea, said the ban had helped boost business: "If anything the number of people coming to the pub has increased."

Carol Robins of The Clifton in Cardiff added: "It is much better for bar staff now and most people are quite satisfied to go out into the yard area to smoke."

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No flare-ups over C.P. smoking ban  

Crown Point seemed to transition to no smoke with no fire Tuesday.

The city's smoking ban began Tuesday after being passed 6-1 in December by the Crown Point City Council. The ban outlaws smoking in all enclosed public places with the exception of bars, private clubs, private residences, retail tobacco stores and designated hotel and motel rooms. Restaurants are part of the ban.

Inside The Smoke Shop, 1115 N. Main St., smoker Roger Burns said he wasn't pleased with the ban

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LAJARA: Smoking ban coughs up strange whiff 

The current debate in the city of Kingston pertaining the recently passed plan banning smoking in parks and nearby municipal buildings has many people scratching their heads while they're smoking in parks and nearby municipal buildings.

That proposal bans smokers from altruistically letting fumes containing acetone, ammonia, benzene, cadmium, carbon monoxide, formaldehide, hydrogen cyanide, lead, tar and nicotine from entering your lungs.

(Pause, breathe, cough, continue reading). . . .

The smoking ban is not about enforcement. It's about "the kids."

"The kids," however, are too busy driving while talking on cell phones, having unprotected sex, smoking other plants and posting photos of those very activities on MySpace.com.

The momentum is with the nonsmokers. And a smoking Freeman editorial recently supported the plan, calling it "progress against this public health scourge."

This public health scourge thinks that's probably a reasonable statement.

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Smoking ban exemptions likely  

Key lawmakers insisted Tuesday they are nearing a deal to snuff out more public smoking in Pennsylvania, but delayed voting on new indoor smoking limits for at least a month.

A House-Senate conference committee is seriously considering a plan drafted by Rep. Ron Miller, R-Jacobus, to allow establishments to permit smoking only if they meet certain conditions.

Businesses, casinos and clubs that want to allow smoking would have to prominently post signs indicating they are smoking establishments and meet air-testing requirements that have yet to be determined. Children would not be allowed inside those smoking establishments.

Smoking would be banned in all indoor places that don't meet the testing mandate or don't choose to post signs declaring that smoking is permitted. . . .

Miller said he proposed the testing requirements because he wants a science-based law, and is still working on details of the testing standards.

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• Wales | 80 penalties given in smoking ban 

Seventy nine people and one business have been penalised for flouting the smoking ban in the year since it was introduced in Wales, figures show.

The ban made it illegal to smoke inside public buildings and some pub landlords say it has affected trade and warn of closures.

But the chief medical officer for Wales described the ban as a "milestone for public health".

And the assembly government says more people are giving up smoking.

It also said there was an increase in public support for the ban

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