Smoke is Poison

In December 2007, Cancer Research UK ran an advertising campaign to warn people about the dangerous chemicals present in cigarette smoke.

The campaign was funded by the Department of Health as part of the national strategy to combat smoking.

TV and radio adverts

Our adverts featured the investigative journalist Donal MacIntyre interviewing people who work with chemicals. The safety precautions necessary for handling these chemicals show how dangerous they are. MacIntyre then revealed that these chemicals are also present in cigarette smoke.

Radio adverts

Benzene radio advert

Arsenic radio advert

Web adverts

Our web adverts highlighted the fact that ordinary smokers are in fact inhaling dangerous chemicals like hydrogen cyanide and benzene.

Print adverts

Our print adverts showed up in the papers, at bus stops or on the back of pub washroom doors. They showed sinister-looking cigarette smoke and explained more about the chemicals it contains.

To see these adverts you will need Adobe’s Acrobat Reader. You can download Acrobat Reader free of charge from the Adobe website.