This photo provided by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency shows in vitro exposure systems for cigarette smoke.
SEOUL, Nov. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — The government has decided to raise general awareness of the health risks of smoking once again by setting up an exclusive research institute specializing in the impact of tobacco on public health.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) opened last Wednesday the ‘National Harmful Effects of Cigarette Smoking Research Lab’, that will research the harmful chemicals in tobacco products and smoke, smoking behavior patterns and the exposure level of environmental harmful substances.
The lab will play a central role in evaluating public health issues caused by cigarette smoking.
To analyze adverse health effects on a real human body caused by both tobacco smoking and electronic cigarette aerosols, a functional replica of a human body will be created and used in tests.
Direct and second-hand smoking environments will be created, and varied inflammatory responses induced by each case will be investigated in detail.
The lab will also tackle one of the most challenging tasks regarding cigarette smoking — answering why it is so hard to stop smoking.
In this respect, the researchers will examine a range of addition-causing factors including flavored substances added to cigarettes.
“Following the establishment of this lab, other related sectors including immunology and genetic research fields will be added to the fold,” KDCA Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong said.
“On a national level, more solid evidence about the harms of smoking will be collected and this will contribute to the national smoke-free program.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
