Australian smokers continue to have little understanding on the impact of tar on their lungs, despite it posing a major threat to lung health new data show.

A research commissioned by Pfizer Australia has found that some 27 per cent of current smokers underestimate the amount of tar inhaled into their lungs, while 72 per cent actually overestimate the volume inhaled. In addition, only 31 per cent of current smokers are aware of how quickly the body can recuperate from tar accumulation once they quit smoking.

Despite this lack of understanding about the amount of tar on their lungs, tar accumulation was rated as the third most significant reason current smokers would quit smoking (76 per cent) , behind general health impacts (87 per cent) and tax increases on cigarettes (81 per cent).

Dr Lucy Morgan, a leading Sydney lung specialist says: “Smoking has many damaging effects on the body, including well known effects on the heart and cardiovascular system. It is important to understand that the accumulation of tar in the lungs also presents particular risks to smokers. Tar accumulation is one of the key causes of lung cancer. Almost one in five cancer deaths are due to lung cancer.”

Struggling to quit

The research also highlights how difficult it is for smokers to quit. While almost one in five (18 per cent) current smokers say they decided to quit smoking in response to advertising campaigns, 33 per cent say they actually light up in response to anti-smoking advertising and 29 per cent of smokers look the other way.

The research, released four years after smoking was banned in enclosed public places in NSW and Victoria, points to the difficulties in changing smoker behaviours. It found that 76 per cent of very heavy smokers say the ban has not affected their smoking addiction. It also found that anti-smoking advertising provokes an emotional response in current smokers, with 47 per cent feeling concerned about themselves and 32 per cent feeling guilty about their addiction.

“Quitting smoking requires a combination of approaches, including medical support and counselling, added Dr Morgan. Smokers are right to be worried about the health impacts of smoking and I encourage them to seek support to help them quit.”