University of Leicester researchers studied human remains buried in England from 1150 to 1855. They found that the arrival of tobacco in Western Europe in the 16th century, usually attributed to Sir Walter Raleigh in 1586, contributed to the spread of the habit.
The study showed that smoking not only leaves scratches on the teeth, but also leaves small chemical particles that may remain in place for a long time.
So, researchers sought to learn more about these molecules and their impact on health.
In general, researchers can tell if someone has smoked by looking at marks on the teeth. For example, scratches known as “pipe cracks” that form from the use of a tobacco pipe. But some teeth may be missing, making it difficult to know if a person is a smoker.
In this regard, the research team devised a method to detect the effects of tobacco smoke on bones. He examined 323 skeletons from two graves in England, and found that some of these skeletons belonged to smokers.
The analyzes showed clear changes in bones between smokers and non-smokers. The researchers were able to identify 45 distinctive features in the bones.
Dr Sarah Inskeep, a bioarchaeologist, said: “We found clear differences between the bones of smokers and non-smokers.”
“Tobacco smoking leaves a recognizable trace in the bones even hundreds of years after death,” the researchers said. This can help understand why smoking is associated with certain bone and dental problems.
In the future, researchers aim to better understand how tobacco has affected health throughout history.
Source: Daily Mail
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