Tobacco Documents Online

MAa 13 1915 -ACSH Inside 11& The Amencan Council on Science & Health - A Nonprofit EducationalAssociation. 1995 Broadway, New York, New York 10023 212-362-7044 Edith Efron, author of The Apoealyptrer. Canen and the BigLre., telts the audience at the ACSH ~seminar"Perspectives in Cancer Prevention° about thee atartling distortions sh'eh'as discovered in the information on cancer causation presentedd by government scientists and the news media. ACSH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR VISITS AUSTRALIA ACSH Associate Director Dr. Richard Greenberg visited Australia in September, where he made several speeches and gave many media interviews during an event-6lled week He presented the keynote speech; on "Meat-The Last Roundup," at the Second Australian Conference on Agriculture and Human Nutrition in Sydney and appeared on two television programs there and two in Melbourne. In Brisbane, Dr. Greenberg spoke to the C SIRO Meat Research Laboratory staff, where he discussed the areas of concern about meat and meat products in the U.S. and how ACSH is addressing those concerns. He also addressed a joint meeting of the Queensland Institute of Food Science and Technology and' the Nutrition Society of Queensland, where his presentation focused on nutritional aspects of processed meats. Dr. Greenberg spoke on a variety ofnutrition topics at a meeting of the Nutrition Society of Victoria, and he discussed ACSH and its activities ata meeting of the New South W ales Department of Agriculture. He was al9o a guest on several radio programs. WINTER 1985 CANCER CONTROVERSIES HIGHLIGHT THIRD ANNUAL ACSH SEMINAR "My operating room could aptly be called'Marlboro country.' In the operating room the surgeon sees, all!too often, the triumph of the cigarette makers' art." With these words andwith illustrations that graphically depictedi the effects of tobacco on the lung, thoracic surgeon Dr. William Cahan ofMemorial SloarfKetteringCancerCenter opened the ACSH symposium "Perspectives in Cancer Preventiona" held at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City on November 19. Dr. Cahan, an ACSH Advisor, gave the seminar audience a fresh and devastating look at the role of tobacco in cancer causation from his special perspective as a physician who treats lung cancer patients. Controversies over the roles of diet and the environment, respectively, in cancer causation highlighted two other seminar presentations. Dr. Walter Willett of the Harvard School of Public Health challenged others in the scientific community who claim thatwe should modify our diets now in an effort to prevent cancer. Although he acknowledged that diet may be the "number two" cause of cancer in America, Dr. Willett warned that °infor- mation about the roles played by specific dietary factors is generally inconsistent and incomplete. It is my own belief that the data that we have rightnow on the relationship between diet and cancer are not sufficient to serve as a basis for strongspecific dietary recommendations." Dr. John Higginson gave the seminar audience some insight into the role of environmental factors in cancer causation and ttaced the history of scientists' understanding of this subject. Dr. Higginson is currently a Senior Scientist at the Universities Associated for Research and Education in Pathology, Inc., but he will'be moving to Georgetown University early this year, to become a fellow in the Institute for Health Policy Analysis there. ACSH's Fourth Annual Award for Distinguished Scientific Achievement was presented at'the seminar's luncheon session. Unfortunately, Dr. Bruce Ames ofthe University ofCaiifontia at Berkeley, recipient of the award, was unable to attend the seminar due to illness. Dr. Higginson accepted the award'on his continued on page 2 t OWN_

r l DR. ALFRED HARPER APPOINTED TO USDA ADVISORY PANEL Dr. Alfred E. Harper has been appointed to the Human Nutrition Board of Scientific Counselors of the U.S: Depart ment of Agriculture. Dr. Harper, an ACSH Director, is a Professor in the Departments of Nutritional Sciences and Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. TIS THE SEASON.. ACSH's "New Year's Resolutions for Good Health" were popular again this year.,A UPI story on the 1985 resolutions appeared'in many newspapers, and USA Today published an article of its own on ACSH's ten tips for the New Year. ACSH Executive Director Dr. Elizabeth Whelan appeared on The Morning Show, on WABC-TV, New'York, on December 31, to discuss the resolutions, and AC SH personnel were interviewed on the subject by several radio stations, including WOAI, San Antonio; KSTP, Minneapolis/ St Paul; KCMO, Kansas City; and WLSU, LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Two other seasonal announcements from ACSH also attractedi attention from the news media. A bulletin describing,some common misconceptions about~sweet treats and hyperactivity,, issued at Halloween, led to several newspaper stories and to interviews on the UPI radio network;,KQV radio, Pittsburgh;, and KSTP radio, Minneapolis/ St. Paul. A bulletin on the safe preparation of Thanksgiving foods was also well-received, and &CSH Research Associate Kathleen Meister"talked'turkey'" with several radio stations shortly before the holiday, including WNBC and WABC, both in NewYorkCity; KQV, Pittsburgh; KSTP, Minneapolis/ St Paul; and WKDR, Plattsburgh, New York. Other topics recently discussedi by ACSH representatives on radio programs include autopsies: WXRT, Chicago; WOAI, San Antonio; KING, Seattle; and WIBK, Knoxville,, Ten- nessee; air pollution from wood-burning stoves: WOAI, San Antonio; KQV, Pittsburgh; CJFM, Montreal; and C100-FM, Halifax, Nova Scotia; low-calorie sweeteners: WJBO, Baton Rouge; and' WOAI, San Antonio; and smoking cessation techniques: WOR, New York, WPOP, Hartford,' Connecticut; and WERC, Birmingham, Alabama. JUST PUBLISHEDi Anyone with a need for detailed information on the safety testing of the low-calorie sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet),will!find AspaRame.'. Physiology and Biochemistry, edited by Dr. Lewis D. Stegink and ACSH'Advisor Dr. L.J. Filer, Jr., (Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, $79.75) to be an indispensable reference. The book includes a great deal: of technicali infor- mation that was previously available only in FDA files, and its chapters were written by many of the scientists who performed the safety studies of this sweetener. How will information technology affect America's future? What are the social, legal, and political influences on technological change??hese questions are addressed in a new book by ACSH Advisor John Diebold, entitled Making the Future Work (Simon & Schuster, New York, $18.95). SEMINAR continued from page I behalf from ACSH Director Dr. Norman Borlaug, and read Dr. Ames' acceptance speech. Dr. John Higginson (right) accepts ACSH's Fourth Annual Award for, Distinguuhed~ Scientific . Achievement on behalf of Dr. Bruee. Ames.. Dr. Norman 8orlaug (left)~ Nobel t.aureate.and~ACSH Director, presented the award: In his prepared remarks, Dn Ames said, "I am particularly pleased to have this honor because I value the effort that the AmericanCouncil on Science and Health has made to bridge the substantial gap between the scientific community and the public at large. In particu]arI ACSH has played a leadership role in educating the public to distinguish the cancer risks thatmatter- such as smoking-from those that are negligible-such as EDB or saccharin. This distinction, though crucial; has so far been very pooriy communicated to the public, and is only imperfectly reflected in present regulatory practices." Dr. W illiam Cahan gives the audience at the ACSH seminar a vivid look at thee effects of tobacco.on the lung ©

s Dr. Ames also warned that the need fordistinguishing important cancer risks from less serious ones "has become even greater with the recent recognition that chemical substances capable of causing mutations are not uniquely, nor even predominantly, of man-made origin." A special award' for Outstanding Scientific Journalism was presented at the seminar to Edith Efron, author of The Apocalyptics: Cancer and the Big Lie. In presenting the award to Ms. Efron, ACSH Executive Director Dr. Elizabeth Whelan called The Apocalyptics "explosive" because it "not only tells you why the popular wisdom abouCenvironmental cancer causation is wrong, it also reveals exactly how the 'big cancer lie' evolved' and the counterproductive effect it has had on this country's attempts at cancer prevention." Dr. John Weisburger of the American Health Foundation, a special speaker at the seminar, also complimented Ms: Efron for "providingthe tool of information to the public so that we all can eventually get!down to the business ofcancerprevention through good science and good public information." ACSH Director Dr. Stephen Sternberg chaired the seminar's morning session, and Dr. Fredrick Stare, Chairman of the ACSH Board'of Directors, chaired the afternoon session. Dr. Walt'er Willett (right) and Dr. Fredrick Stare, chairman of theaRemoon session, field questions following Dr. Willett's presentation on diet and'caneer at . the ACSH seminar. . . DR. CAMPAIGNE TO HEAD INDIANA SCIENTISTS' GROUP Dr. Ernest E. Campaigne is President-elect of the Indiana Academy of Science and will serve as President of that body in 1986. The Academy, founded in 1885, is currently celebrating its Centennial year. Dr. Campaigne, an ACSH Advisor, is Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Indiana University. INSIDE ACSH is an informal quarterly publication of the American Council on Science and Health, 1995 Broadway, New York, NY 10023 Editor. Lynne P. Middelveen Photographer. Cheryl E. Martin Staff: Joyce Jones and Kathleen Meister _ Evalyn Simon (above), a graduate student in mutritionn at the Univenilyy of Florida, recently spent six weeks.as a student intem at ACSH, workiag underthee direction ofACSH Research Associate Dr. Densie Hatfield. Eva4n'3ACSH internship will help to satisfy the requirements for her master's degree. HEALTHLINE'85 UPDATE ACSH's public service radio series, HEALTHLINE '85, started the new year with a special set of programs on the causes and prevention ofcaneer. Five distinguished scientists served as commentators: Dr. F.J. Francis of the University of Mas sachusetts, Dr. Alfred E. Harper of the University of Wis, consin, Dr. William R. Havender, aconsultantfromBerkeley,. California, Dr. Robert E. Olson ofthe State University ofNew York at Stony Brook,, and Dr. Stephen S. Sternberg of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Dn Havender is an ACSH Advisor, the others are ACSH Directors. The special commentaries were sent to alli HEALTHLINE stations in addition to the regular programs distributed in January. The January, HEALTHLINE programs alto featured three guest speakers: ACSH Research Associates Dr. Densie Hatfield; Kathleen Meister, and Cathy Becker Popescu. HEALTHLINE continues to be popular with radio stations throughout the U.S. Some recent'eomments from the program directors of stations that are playing the seriesr"We've been using HEALTHLINE for several years now: Great program!" WWLR, Lyndonville, Vermont; "We appreciate the programs very much" WLUR, Lexington~ Virginia; "Good series! Thanks." KALS, Kalispell, Montana; "Good programs." KIDO, Boise, Idaho; "They're quite good-thank you." KWXL-FM, Albuquerque, Nt w Mexico; "Good feature." WNYM, Staten Island, New York, "HEALTHLINE has becomepartofanhourlongnews&featureblock.'.'KNBR, San Francisco, California; "Excellent info programs." WILM, Wilmington, Delaware. DR. WHELAN VISITS MILAN FOR SUGAR SYMPOSIUM ACSH Executive Director Dr. Elizabeth Whelan traveled to Milan, Italy in October, to present a paper on"Saccharose: Its Role in Human Nutrition" at the International Symposium on Sugars and Sugar Substitutes in Human Nutrition. The paper was coauthored by Dr. Whelan and'Dr. Fredrick Stare, Professor of Nurtition, Emeritus, at' the Harvard School of Public Health and Chairman of the ACSH Board of'Directors. 3

:L ,go The number of requests for ACSH reports tvasincreased greatlyy in recent months. Here, Louise W atsoo, ACSH's Consumer Liaison, tackles the requests forpubWcations andinformation that were received in one day's.mail at the Summit, New Jersey ACSH o8iee. NEWS BRIEFS At the annual meeting of the American Medical Writers Association, ACSH Advisor Dr. John P. Callan, Medical Director at Blue Hills Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut, received a Fellowship Award from the Association. Also, Vitamins and Minerals: Help or Harm?, by Dr. Charles W. Marshall, received an award in the trade book category. This book is part of a series of health books for general readers published by the George F. Stickley Company in Philadelphia and edited by'ACSH Advisor Dr Stephen Barrett. ACSH Executive Director Dr. Elizabeth Whelan spoke on "Consumerism and the Misdirected War Against Alcohol Advertising" at'a meeting of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States in January. Dr. Kristen McNutt, anACSH Advisor, has been promoted to Associate Director and Director of Scientific and Public Affairs of the Good Housekeeping Institute. "Give Thanks for Pesticides Tooa" an article on EDB by Dr. Elizabeth M. Whelan, Executive Director ofACSH, appeared in the magazine Across the Board in November. American Council on Science and Health 1995 Broadway Ne.wYOrk; NY 10023 ' - 9841 F. J. Schultz P. 01 Box 21688 Greensboro§ N.C. 4 1. "National Health Policy: Decision Making and Consumer Ignorance," a presentation by ACSH Advisor Dr. Rita Ritardo-Campbell to the Western Economic Association's Annual Meeting, has been published iin monograph'form by the Hoover Institution. Copies can be obtained from the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305. At the invitation of the World Health Organization, Dr. Wayland J. Hayes, Jr., was a member of an Expert Committee on the Safe Use of Pesticides that met in Geneva in September. Other members came from Argentina, Australia, Indonesia, Yugoslavia, Pakistan, Sudan, the United Kingdom, and the USSR Dr. Hayes was elected rapporteur of the meeting; and in this connection, he edited the report that was produced and approved by the expert committee. Dr. Hayes is Professor of Biochemistry, Emeritus, at Vanderbilt University and an ACSH Advisor. "When Time and Newsweek Filtered Cigarette Copy," an article by AC SH Executive Director Dr. Elizabeth Whelan on the impact of tobacco advertising dollars on magazines' editoriai policies, appeared'in the Wall Street.lournal on November 1. Copies are available from Cheryl Martin at the New York ACSH office. The proceedings of the symposium "The Meat Industry in the 21 st Century," held in May 1984 at the University of Wisconsin, have been published in book form. Copies are available for $5.00 each from the Department of Meat and Animal Science, University of Wisconsin, 1675 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706. ACSH Advisors Dr. Zerle Carpenter and Dr. Owen Fennema were among the contrt butors to this book. NEW ACSH REPORTS AVAILABLE New ACSH reports now available for purchase include Dioxin in the Environment Its Effect on Human Health,. PCBs: Is the Cure Worth the Cost?, Reye Syndrome and a newly revised' and updated edition of'~ Health and Sq/'ety. Aspects of Vfdeo Display Terminals. All ACSH reports are priced at $2.00 per copy, with reduced prices for orders of 10 copies or more. To purchase ACSH reports or obtain in- formation about quantity pricing, contact Verna Atwood, ACSH, 47 Maple St., Summit, NJ 07901. NON PROFIT ORG: U.S. POSTAGE PALD SUMMIT, N.J. PERMIT', NO. 84, 27420 ~