How does smoking change the structure of human bones?

A new study has opened up a breakthrough in understanding the impact of tobacco on human health over the centuries.

Scientists have discovered that tobacco consumption not only causes respiratory diseases and cancer as we know, but also leaves a clear mark on bone structure . By analyzing remains from the 12th to the 19th centuries, archaeologists have found molecular changes in bones associated with tobacco use. This creates a completely new tool for identifying tobacco users in the past, even without direct evidence from the mouth.

Groundbreaking discovery about the impact of tobacco on human bones

The research is part of the Tobacco, Health & History project , led by Dr Sarah Inskip, in collaboration with scientists from the University of Leicester. The team focused on understanding molecular changes in cortical bone – the dense outer layer of the body's bone. This is responsible for providing strength and protection to the bone structure, where traces of tobacco can persist for centuries after a user has died.

The team analysed 323 skeletons from two different sites, allowing them to compile detailed data on the impact of smoking. The skeletons came from St James's Garden Cemetery in London and a country churchyard in Barton-upon-Humber, Lincolnshire. The London samples date from the 18th and 19th centuries, when tobacco was widespread across Europe. Meanwhile, the Barton-upon-Humber skeletons spanned the 12th to the 19th centuries, covering both the period before and after tobacco was introduced to Western Europe.

Smoking leaves a visible mark on bone structure.

Research methods and key findings

To identify differences in bone structure, the team used advanced techniques such as scanning electron microscopy. The results showed marked metabolic changes in the bones of smokers compared to non-smokers. These changes were still detectable even after centuries, thanks to the persistence of the effects that smoking has on the molecular structure of bone.

'Our study shows significant differences in molecular features in the bones of past tobacco users . This suggests that we can observe the effects of tobacco not only on the respiratory system but also on the structure of the human skeleton,' said Dr Sarah Inskip.

Previous studies on tobacco have focused primarily on respiratory diseases and cancers. However, this is the first time scientists have been able to show that tobacco also causes changes in human bones. The findings expand our understanding of the long-term effects of tobacco use on overall health, and provide a new way to classify remains in archaeological studies.

We can observe the effects of tobacco through the structure of human bones.

Great impact on archaeological research

One of the most important implications of this research is the ability to identify tobacco users even in the absence of dental evidence , such as tooth wear or staining, which are common signs of smoking. This allows archaeologists to expand their research and provide more detailed information about how tobacco affected past populations.

For example, the study could help scientists learn more about the prevalence of tobacco-related musculoskeletal and dental diseases in historical societies. In the past, archaeologists had difficulty determining whether an individual used tobacco without dental evidence. But with these new findings, scientists can get more precise data about the impact of tobacco over the centuries.

Explore the effects of tobacco in more depth

These preliminary findings were published on 4 October 2024 in the journal Science Advances , marking a major step forward in the field of bioarchaeology. The study was co-authored by Dr Diego Badillo-Sanchez, Dr Anna Davies-Barrett, Maria Serrano Ruber, Professor Don Jones and Dr Sarah Inskip. The team has begun to lay the groundwork for further research to clarify how and why smoking affects human bone structure.

In the future, the team plans to focus on better understanding how molecular changes in bone occur in living tobacco users. By learning more about how smoking affects bone density and strength, the scientists hope to gain a more comprehensive picture of the impact of smoking on ancient populations.

Additionally, one of the team's long-term goals is to further investigate the link between tobacco use and musculoskeletal disorders . They also hope that, by analyzing molecular changes in bone, they can shed light on how tobacco has affected bone health in different populations, from rural to urban residents, over different time periods.

Open questions about the long-term effects of smoking

While modern medical research has clearly demonstrated the effects of smoking on human health, especially respiratory diseases and cancer, a better understanding of its effects on bones remains elusive. Why does smoking affect bone structure over such a long period of time? And can these new findings help us better deal with today's bone disorders?

The research by Dr. Inskip and his colleagues provides an important start in answering these questions, and sets the stage for future research on the effects of smoking on human bone. These findings not only shed new light on human health in the past, but also open up new avenues for studying the effects of smoking on health today and in the future.

With these groundbreaking findings, we gain a new perspective on how tobacco not only alters a person's overall health but also profoundly affects the structure of the body, leaving lasting marks that span centuries.