Developing countries, already grappling with a heavy burden from infectious diseases, have been at the fore in pushing for the convention, saying they need protection from tobacco multinationals who have switched their sales drives from saturated Western markets to Asia and Africa. There are about 1 billion smokers worldwide.
Sir Richard Peto, an Oxford University epidemiologist who conducted the studies in India and China but was not involved in the latest global estimate, said he believes that deaths in the developing world have probably already outstripped those in the rich countries.
"It's difficult because until the studies are done in particular countries, you can't really know," he said.
RSS