hand smoke at home and 50 percent in public places, according to the poll published online by The Lancet medical journal. Smoking is a leading cause of preventable death. It increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, respiratory problems, lung and other types of cancer. Warren said the findings should be included in future projections of smoking deaths. He also called for a redoubling of efforts to prevent teenagers, particularly girls, from smoking. In a separate study in The Lancet, researchers from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in Minneapolis warned that India could be facing an increase in tobacco use among children. After surveying 11,642 students in 32 schools in India, the scientists found that sixth grade pupils were two to four times more likely to use tobacco than those in the eighth grade. "The finding that sixth grade students use significantly more tobacco than eighth grade students is unusual and might indicate a new wave of increased tobacco use in urban India that warrants confirmation and early intervention," they said in the study.
