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6 Million People will die and $500 Billion Lost.
Jump to full article: merinews (in), 2009-05-30
Intro: G-20 leaders pledged to provide the International Monetary Fund with $500billion to help struggling economies, sparking global controversy. Yetstartling research shows that the combined costs of tobacco-related death andrelated productivity losses, healthcare expenditures, employee absenteeism,and widespread environmental harm are responsible for draining the sameamount - $500 billion - from the global economy each year and it receives much less attention than it deserves.
In recognition of World No Tobacco Day on 31st May, the World Heart Federation insists on bringing more attention to the impact of tobacco onhealth and disease. Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death andis closely linked to cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause ofdeath worldwide. In 2010, it is estimated that six million people will diefrom the effects of tobacco - more than from HIV/AIDS, malaria andtuberculosis combined - and nearly three-quarters (72%) will be in low- andmiddle-income countries. Using tobacco causes clogging of the arteries, heartdisease, stroke, sudden death and heart failure.
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