Medical Research link Smoking to Cancer 1951

In 1950, Sir Richard Doll was the first scientist to prove a link between smoking and lung cancer. Sir Richard Doll began to investigate tar on the roads believing that maybe it was the cause of lung cancer. He and his colleagues interviewed 700 lung cancer patients to try to identify a link. "It was not long before it became clear that cigarette smoking may be to blame". In 1951, he co-authored a paper that suggested the link, and three years later, he wrote another paper that proved it. It wasn't until 1954, that people began to take notice of the link too. Sir Richard Doll was a smoker as well, but quit 2/3 of the way through his study. Doll said "I don't mind in the least if someone in the room lights up a cigarette, It's their decision and their life,not mine".

Richard Doll was appinted OBE in 1956, and was knighted in 1971. He recieved honorary degrees from 13 universities, and won countless awards, including the UN Award for Cancer Research in 1962. It was Richard Doll's researched that showed people that smokers were more likely to die of lung cancer than non-smokers. In 1954, 80% of British adults smoked, 50 years laters its now down to 26 percent.

Written By:Angela B.