Tobacco Kills 6 Million a Year Worldwide

Tobacco kills six million people around the globe annually and costs the world economy up to $500 billion, a new report quoted by U.S. News & World Report said.

The study, by the American Cancer Society and the World Lung Foundation, was released as the Livestrong Global Cancer Summit in Dublin, Ireland. The study predicts that 2.1 million people will be killed by tobacco-related cancer by 2015; most of the deaths will be in poor countries because that's where the tobacco industry has begun to spend lots of money in marketing.

It's an "undeniable trend," the study said.

And it's the most preventable type of cancer through such policies as bans on advertising, taxes on tobacco, smoke-free public places and warnings on packages.

The American Cancer Society's news release is here.