They studied polonium and its link to cancer in the 1960s
(NEWSER) - Tobacco companies were well aware that their products contained radiation—and they discovered this decades ago, UCLA researchers studying 27 historical documents have found. The firms learned of the presence of polonium-210 in cigarettes in 1959, and they examined the radioactive material's effects during the 1960s, documents show. They found that it caused “cancerous growths” in users’ lungs, and figured out just how much radiation a typical smoker would inhale, but the companies didn’t warn the public. Using the original calculations, the researchers determined that the radiation would lead to the deaths of 138 of every 1,000 smokers over 25 years, ABC News reports. More»
