XPost: rec.drugs.cannabis, uk.legal, uk.politics.drugs   
   XPost: uk.rec.drugs.cannabis   
   From: drjohn@NOSPAM.hotpotmail.com   
      
   'Cannabis alters human DNA' - new study   
      
   Posted on 16/06/09   
   University of Leicester   
      
   A new study published by University of Leicester researchers has found   
   "convincing evidence" that cannabis smoke damages DNA in ways that could   
   potentially increase the risk of cancer development in humans.   
      
   Using a newly developed highly sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass   
   spectrometry method, the University of Leicester scientists found clear   
   indication that cannabis smoke damages DNA, under laboratory conditions.   
      
   They have now published the findings in the journal Chemical Research in   
   Toxicology1.   
      
   The research was carried out by Rajinder Singh, Jatinderpal Sandhu,   
   Balvinder Kaur, Tina Juren, William P. Steward, Dan Segerback and Peter B.   
   Farmer from the Cancer Biomarkers and Prevention Group, Department of   
   Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine and Karolinska Institute, Sweden.   
      
   Raj Singh said: Parts of the plant Cannabis sativa, also known as   
   marijuana, ganja, and various street names, are commonly smoked as a   
   recreational drug, although its use for such purposes is illegal in many   
   countries.   
      
   There have been many studies on the toxicity of tobacco smoke. It is known   
   that tobacco smoke contains 4000 chemicals of which 60 are classed as   
   carcinogens. Cannabis in contrast has not been so well studied. It is less   
   combustible than tobacco and is often mixed with tobacco in use. Cannabis   
   smoke contains 400 compounds including 60 cannabinoids. However, because   
   of its lower combustibility it contains 50% more carcinogenic polycyclic   
   aromatic hydrocarbons including naphthalene, benzanthracene, and   
   benzopyrene, than tobacco smoke.   
      
   Writing in the journal Chemical Research in Toxicology, the scientists   
   describe the development of a mass spectrometry method that provides a   
   clear indication that cannabis smoke damages DNA, under laboratory   
   conditions.   
      
   The authors added: It is well known that toxic substances in tobacco smoke   
   can damage DNA and increase the risk of lung and other cancers. Scientists   
   were unsure though whether cannabis smoke would have the same effect. Our   
   research has focused on the toxicity of acetaldehyde, which is present in   
   both tobacco and cannabis.   
      
   The researchers add that the ability of cannabis smoke to damage DNA has   
   significant human health implications especially as users tend to inhale   
   more deeply than cigarette smokers, which increases respiratory burden.   
   "The smoking of 3-4 cannabis cigarettes a day is associated with the same   
   degree of damage to bronchial mucus membranes as 20 or more tobacco   
   cigarettes a day," the team adds.   
      
   "These results provide evidence for the DNA damaging potential of cannabis   
   smoke," the researchers conclude, "implying that the consumption of   
   cannabis cigarettes may be detrimental to human health with the   
   possibility to initiate cancer development."   
      
   The study was funded by the European Union Network of Excellence ECNIS,   
   the Medical Research Council and Cancer Research UK.   
      
   1. Rajinder Singh, Jatinderpal Sandhu, Balvinder Kaur, Tina Juren, William   
   P. Steward, Dan Segerback and Peter B. Farmer (2009) Evaluation of the DNA   
   Damaging Potential of Cannabis Cigarette Smoke by the Determination of   
   Acetaldehyde Derived N2-Ethyl-2?-deoxyguanosine Adducts. Chemical Research   
   in Toxicology, 22, 1181-1188.   
      
   http://www.inloughborough.com/news/096266/%27Cannabis%20alters%2   
   human%20DNA%27%20-%20new%20study   
      
   --   
   Dr John Watson   
   Baker Street   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)