Carcinogenicity of Tobacco Smoke Condensate to Mouse Skin

Abstract

IN his review of the recently published book Tobacco and Tobacco Smoke by Wynder and Hoffmann, Professor Passey¹ draws attention to the discrepancy between results of painting cigarette smoke condensate on the skin of mice in the United States and Great Britain. Results of Wynder et al.², who obtained in America 44.4 per cent of skin carcinomata from a group of eighty-one mice, are compared with 3–5 per cent obtained by workers in Great Britain. Day's work is quoted in support of these low percentages³, and a figure of 3 per cent of 7,875 mice seems to confirm the apparent very low Carcinogenicity. This total, however, includes 1,320 untreated controls and 660 mice treated with the solvent control.