SINGAPORE: Tobacco use killed almost six million
people in 2011, and nearly 80 per cent of these deaths occurred in
low and middle income countries.
A new Tobacco Atlas unveiled Wednesday said tobacco
industry profits, at the same time, have become greater than
ever.
The Atlas said estimates of revenues from the global
tobacco industry are likely to reach half a trillion US dollars
annually.
In 2010, the combined profits of the six leading tobacco companies
in the US was some US$35 billion, equal to the combined profits of
Coca-Cola, Microsoft, and Macdonald's in the same year.
If trends continue, the Atlas said one billion people will die from
tobacco use and exposure during the 21st century.
This works out to one person dying every six seconds.
The Atlas by the American Cancer Society and World Lung Foundation
was unveiled at the 15th World Conference on Tobacco or
Health.
- CNA/cc