U.S. stepping up tobacco health warnings

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Much larger and more explicit health warnings will be slapped on cigarette packs and ads, the U.S. federal government said Wednesday.

For the first time, the images may depict dead bodies, cancer patients and diseased lungs, The Washington Post reported.

The new anti-smoking warnings, the first change since cigarette packs began carrying messages 25 years ago, will cover half the front and back of each pack and 20 percent of the top of each ad.

"Today marks an important milestone in protecting our children and the health of the American public," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said.

The proposed warnings include an image of man smoking with a hole in his throat from a tracheotomy, a body with a large scar running down the chest and a man who seems to be having a heart attack. Others have images of diseased lungs and stained teeth and mothers blowing smoke into a baby's face.

The Food and Drug Administration, which is requiring the warnings using new powers legislated last year to regulate tobacco, will take public comment on 36 proposed images until Jan. 9.