Accra, June 13, GNA- A Medical Research Fellow on Friday warned against the use of anti-perspirant, especially by women, saying it could cause breast cancer.

Dr Irene Ayi, of the Noguchi Medical Research Institute said anti-perspirants keep the body dry from sweat containing toxins, and that concealing sweat was dangerous to the body. She recommended the use of deodorant instead.

Dr Ayi gave the advice at a seminar to mark the World No Tobacco Day organised by the American Corner of the Ghana Library Board to educate pupils on the dangers of tobacco.

Touching on tobacco, Dr Ayi noted that tobacco remained the second killer disease in the world, killing at least 5.4 million people each year.

She stated that passive-smokers of tobacco, defined, as those who do not smoke but inhale from smokers were at a greater risk than the smokers themselves.

About 25 per cent of passive smokers, she said, risk dying from heart attack whiles expectant mothers exposed to tobacco smoke also risk giving birth to babies weighing below two kilograms.

Dr. Ayi expressed worry on statistics released by the Ghana Health Service revealing 16 per cent smoking prevalence rate among school children between the ages of 12 to 18.

She said the research also showed that 5 per cent were currently smoking, 17.2 per cent were using tobacco products and 16.5 per cent were likely to smoke in future.

She also condemned the practice of sending children to buy cigarette, since that habit could entice them to also smoke. Dr Ayi therefore advised the students against all forms of smoking, considering its effects and they should rather act as agents for change. At this year's World NO Tobacco Day, celebrated on May 31 under the theme: " Tobacco-free Youth", the World Health Organisation called for a complete ban on tobacco advertisement due to the established relationship between exposure of cigarette advertisement and starting smoking,.