AN ANTI-SMOKING advert featuring the radioactive poison that killed a former Russian spy has been pulled by the Government.

Polonium 210 - used to murder Alexander Litvinenko in London last month - was due to feature in one of the Cancer Research UK commercials.

The £3million campaign highlights that there are 69 deadly chemicals in cigarette smoke - including polonium, arsenic and formaldehyde.

Health Minister Caroline Flint yesterday defended the decision to shelve the polonium advert, paid for by her department.

People who came into contact with Litvinenko are being tested for polonium, which is highly radioactive.

Flint said: "It's a coincidence that these events came together at the same time. We wanted to avoid any suggestion we were trying to jump on a bandwagon."

She added that people were still being tested. She said: "I am sure those people and their families are going through a worrying time."

Cancer Research UK said the advert was a reaction to "the horrifying lack of awareness" smokers had about the poisons they exposed themselves to.

The documentary-style ads feature workplaces which use dangerous chemicals and show the surprise of people when told what cigarette smoke contains.

Journalist Donal McIntyre, who made the adverts, said: "I was shocked by the chemical cocktail in cigarettes. I was staggered."

An estimated 14million people smoke in Britain with 300 people a day dying from smoking-related diseases.

12 December 2006
Daily Record - Glasgow
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