Anne Landman's Collection
Your Memo of 620109 in Re Coughing by Dual Tareyton Smokers
Abstract
In the early 1960s, Philip Morris' (PM) Tareyton cigarettes sported a "dual filter" that contained carbon particles. There were subsequent reports that smokers of these "dual filter" cigarettes were experiencing a higher incidence of chronic coughing. Philip Morris CEO Hugh Cullman asked his director of research, Dr. Helmut Wakeham, to design a test to see if any of the carbon particles were being sucked out of the cigarettes and inhaled. A handwritten note on the original memo from Cullman stated, "Dr. Bavley, Virginia Johnson said she did this four years ago and carbon particles were sucked out of the cigarettes when smoked. She is looking for the negatives showing the carbon particles of transmitted carbon. RHB 1/10/62" http://www.pmdocs.com/getallimg.asp'if=avpidx&DOCID=1001882144
In this memo, Wakeham responds to the problem by minimizing it, saying "All cigarette filters can be shown to transmit particles...Medical and industrial hygiene literature abounds in studies of the abilities of humans to inhale copious quantities of solid particles of all kinds without suffering ill effects..."
He concludes with the ironic line,
"Let's worry about the chemical constituents of smoke. There's a real problem!"
Fields
- Notes
This document was used as a trial exhibit in Missouri, Texas, Florida and Minnesota.
- Quotes
To: Mr. Hugh Cullman From: H. Wakeham Date: January 12, 1962 Subject: Your Memo of January 9, 1962 in re Coughing by Dual Tareyton Smokers
1. We question the assertion that dual Tareyton smokers have a higher incidence of chronic coughing. We have studied the H.T.I Report 1162 very carefully and find no support for such a conclusion...So, why try to understand something that isn't so?
2. All cigarette filters can be shown to transmit particles to the smoker. The free passageways are a thousand times, yea ten thousand times, larger than particles whichi may pass through them. This goes for carbon, tobacco, sand, clay, lint and all similar impurities. If we can't demonstrate them with an ordinary microscope, we can resort to an electron microscope.
3. Medical and industrial hygiene literature abounds in studies of the abilities of humans to inhale copious quantities of solid particles of all kinds without suffering ill effects. Believe me, the little solid which comes through a cigarette filter is insignificant by comparison.
4. Let's worry about the chemical constituents in smoke. There's a real problem!
- Company
- Philip Morris Cos., Inc.
- Author
- Wakeham, Helmut R. R., Ph.D. (PM R&D VP)Vice President and Director of Research & Development, Philip Morris
- Recipient
- Cullman, Howard S. "Hugh" (PM Inc., President 1957-67, CEO '67-78)Howard "Hugh" Cullman was the brother of Joseph Cullman Jr. He was president of Philip Morris, Inc. from 1957-67, Chairman of Board and CEO of PM 1967-78, Chairman of Executive Committee of the Board 1978.
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