The Brazilian black people who smoke have up to 5.21 times higher risk of developing lung cancer than Brazilian white smokers. The finding is from a research conducted by Unicamp (Universidade Estadual de Campinas), which was presented at the European Congress of Pneumology.

The cancer of the lung is considered to have the highest mortality rate in the world. About 90% of cases are related to excessive consumption or exposure to passive smoking. For the study, Unicamp researchers evaluated 464 people, 200 carriers of lung cancer and 264 healthy and nonsmokers.

The pulmonologist Lair Zambon, author of the study, most blacks evaluated showed a mutation in the gene CYP1A1 * 2A which is able to potentiate the action of carcinogens present in cigarette components, especially the highly carcinogenic substance benzopyrene.

Another pulmonologist, Mauro Zamboni from the National Cancer Institute strengthens, however, that the results reflect the situation of black Brazilians and can not be extended to the entire black population in the world because of genetic differences.

For the researcher, the results have immediate impact in the prevention of disease in this population, through education campaigns that encourage people to stop smoking.

He also said that although the results suggest a genetic issue, the pulmonologists should not start genetic tests in blacks who smoke because that would be economically unfeasible.

Via: Folha.