近日，媒体报道槟榔有毒（如：央视报道槟榔为一级致癌物华西专家:常嚼会提高患口腔癌几率(1)_...、槟榔为一级致癌物央视:槟榔提高口腔癌患病率），由于恰逢槟榔上市时节，致使槟榔价格下跌，农户企业受损严重（见：槟榔致癌后遗症已现价格"大跳水"跌幅超4成--海南视窗--人民网）。

槟榔有致癌作用，学术界也已研究多年。最新的相关综述文章见2012年的PLoS ONE文章：Sharan RN, Mehrotra R, Choudhury Y, Asotra K (2012) Association of Betel Nut with Carcinogenesis: Revisit with a Clinical Perspective. PLoS ONE 7(8): e42759. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0042759（链接：Association of Betel Nut with Carcinogenesis: Revisit with a Clinical ...：BN/BQ mastication seems to be significantly associated with susceptibility to oral and oropharyngeal cancers.）。其它如Areca (betel) nut: understanding the health risks：The International Agency for Research on Cancer in its Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, Volume 85 concluded that areca nut is carcinogenic to humans and it is now classified as a Group 1 carcinogen. This conclusion is based on the review of multiple studies and all the available high quality data, which also shows that there is a dose response relationship (both duration and daily frequency of areca use increase the risk of developing cancer) with areca nut and oral cancer and other precancerous lesions. [PDF]  A review of human carcinogens—Part E: tobacco, areca nut, alcohol ...：Around 600 million people are estimated to chew betel quid in India and southeast Asia (prevalence of up to 80% in parts of India). Betel quid generally consists of areca nut, betel leaf, catechu, slaked lime, and often tobacco. Carcinogenic nitro samines derived from the areca nut, the primary ingredient in betel quid, are formed in the saliva of chewers. Areca nut induces oral preneoplastic disorders with a high propensity to progress to cancer. The Group 1 classifi cation of betel quid with or without added tobacco, and of areca nut, was reaffi rmed. There is now suffi cient evidence that betel quid without added tobacco causes oesophageal cancer, and limited evidence for liver cancer. 但食用槟榔实际造成的致癌效果却可能因产地、加工方式及食用习惯等而存在差异。不能直接引用国外的数据来说明中国的问题。只有就中国槟榔食用人群进行广泛调查的基础上，才能得出科学的数据。这期待中国科学家的努力。