Smoking food and health risks

[Pferdestarke]

Does anyone know if all the associated articles relating to carcinogenic particles in smoked food, or food with excess carbonisation and the associated health risks are true?

Having just bought a smoker I'm apparently increasing the risk of all sorts of nasties.

Surely it's a case of all things in moderation but I'd rather not knowingly be increasing the chances of family members and myself developing such terrible illnesses.