One of the many dramatic displays in Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS 2: The Original Exhibition of Real Human Bodies at the Maryland Science Center features blackened smoker's lungs compared to healthy lungs. This striking comparison has moved many visitors to quit smoking.

Plastinated smoker & non-smoker lungs from
Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS exhibit

After cleaning crews continued to find unfinished packs of cigarettes on the glass display case containing the smoker's lung, the idea of creating a formal smoking cessation program was conceived. "Each rejected pack marked a victory by one person against nicotine addiction," said Dr. Angelina Whalley, a physician and designer of the BODY WORLDS exhibitions. "Many visitors to the exhibition reported that they had tried everything but only stopped after seeing the smoker's lung," said Whalley. She remembered the dramatic public service announcement by the actor Yul Brynner before his death in 1985. "I wanted to unite his message to the donor's lungs to inspire people to give up smoking," Whalley said. And thus, the I Quit program was born.

The I Quit program kicked off at the BODY WORLDS 2 exhibition at the Maryland Science Center on May 12, 2008. The interactive display, located within the exhibition, features the memorable PSA by the late actor, Yul Brynner. Prior to his death from lung cancer, he announced on national television, "I want to make a commercial and say, now that I am gone, I tell you don't smoke, whatever you do, just don't smoke."

Scene from the Yul Brynner PSA

The display also includes pledge cards for visitors intending to give up smoking to sign and take with them as a reminder of their commitment to quit, as well as, a repository where visitors can leave their last pack of cigarettes. Visitors to the exhibit have the opportunity to consider the effects of individual lifestyle choices by comparing healthy and diseased organs–such as the blackened lungs of a smoker next to healthy lungs.

Official I Quit Partner:

For FREE resources and support to help you quit smoking, please go to:
www.FFSonline.org or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

Your body will thank you within minutes after your last cigarette.

After quitting for:
20 minutes:
Your blood pressure drops to a level close to that before the last cigarette.

8 hours:
The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

24 hours:
Your chance of a heart attack decreases.

2 weeks to 3 months:
Your circulation improves and your lung function increases up to 30%.

1 to 9 months:
Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease.

1 year:
The excess rick of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.

5 years:
Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5-10 years after quitting.

10 years:
The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker's. The risk of other forms of cancer also decreases.

15 years:
The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker's.

*According to the Surgeon General