Lorillard
Involuntary Smoking the Factual Basis for Action
Fields
- Alias
- 87805736/87805741
- Master ID
- 87805364/5929
- 87805364 Shb Reports on Recent Ets and Iaq Developments 930100 - 930600
- 87805365 Reports on Recent Ets and Iaq Developments 930100 - 930600
- 87805366
- 87805367
- 87805368
- 87805369
- 87805370
- 87805371
- 87805372
- 87805373
- 87805374-5385 Reports on Recent Ets and Iaq Developments Index of Articles Index of Appendices
- 87805387-5423 Report on Recent Ets and Iaq Developments
- 87805406-5407 Statement by Secretary of Labor Lynn Martin
- 87805408 Environmental Tobacco Smoke in the Workplace
- 87805409-5411 Facts About Secondhand Smoke
- 87805412-5413 Secondhand Smoke in Your Home
- 87805414-5415 Secondhand Smoke in the Workplace
- 87805416-5417 Secondhand Smoke in the Restaurants
- 87805418-5419 Secondhand Smoke in the Restaurants
- 87805420 Tips for Effective Letters
- 87805421-5422 Organizations with More Information
- 87805423 Ets / Iaq Report Fax Communication Sheet
- 87805425-5484 Report on Recent Ets and Iaq Developments
- 87805450-5458 Remarks by Lautenberg (D - Nj) on S. 261 and S. 262 Preventing Our Kids From Inhaling Deadly Smoke (Pro Kids) Act of 930000 (Cr Page S-916, 114 Lines)
- 87805459-5461 U.S. Ties Secondhand Smoke to Cancer
- 87805462 A Dying Smoker's Tale
- 87805463-5465 Epa Designates Passive Smoking A 'class A' or Known Human Carcinogen
- 87805466-5471 S. 262 Preventing Our Federal Building Workers and Visitors From Exposure to Deadly Smoke (Pro-Feds) Act of 930000
- 87805472 Resolution Before the Boma Board of Governors
- 87805473-5480 Passive Smoking Questions and Answers
- 87805481-5483 Press Notice Passive Smoking Opens at the Science Museum
- 87805484 Ets / Iaq Report Fax Communication Sheet
- 87805486-5543 Report on Recent Ets and Iaq Developments
- 87805515 Request for Information Regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke
- 87805516-5521 Ets Bibliography Smoking and Sudden Death Syndrome
- 87805522 Environmental Tobacco Smoke References: Otitis Media
- 87805523-5528 Ets and Perinatal Effects Bibliography
- 87805529-5537 Ets Bibliography Cancers
- 87805538-5542 A Bill to Amend the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 740000 So As to Provide for the Control of Smoking in Places of Work, and for Connected Purposes
- 87805543 Ets / Iaq Report Fax Communication Sheet
- 87805545-5581 Report on Recent Ets and Iaq Developments
- 87805573-5574 Attachment II Exhibit 3
- 87805575-5580 Environmental Protection Integrated Risk Information System (Iris): Announcement of Availability of Background Paper
- 87805581 Ets / Iaq Report Fax Communication Sheet
- 87805583-5619 Report on Recent Ets and Iaq Developments
- 87805606-5611
- 87805612-5618
- 87805619 Ets / Iaq Report Fax Communication Sheet
- 87805621-5662 Report on Recent Ets and Iaq Developments
- 87805657-5659
- 87805660-5661 What Editorials Say About the Epa Report
- 87805662 Ets / Iaq Report Fax Communication Sheet
- 87805664-5704 Report on Recent Ets and Iaq Developments
- 87805691 Junk Science
- 87805692-5703 Tobacco Institute of Australia Limited Plaintiff Stephen Woodward Defendant Statement of Claim No. 2146 of 930000
- 87805704 Ets / Iaq Report Fax Communication Sheet
- 87805706-5742 Report on Recent Ets and Iaq Developments
- 87805732-5735 Joanne Bahura, Plaintiffs, Vs. S.E.W. Investors, Defendants Civil Action No. 90-Ca-10594 Judge Rufus King, III Plaintiff's Second Amended Designation of Expert Witnesses
- 87805742 Ets / Iaq Report Fax Communication Sheet
- 87805744-5777 Report on Recent Ets and Iaq Developments
- 87805777 Ets / Iaq Report Fax Communication Sheet
- 87805779-5805 Report on Recent Ets and Iaq Developments
- 87805805 Ets / Iaq Report Fax Communication Sheet
- 87805807-5849 Report on Recent Ets and Iaq Developments
- 87805838 Occupational Safety + Health Administration National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health, Request for Nominations
- 87805839-5848 Testimony of Lynn Rhinehart Occupational Safety and Health Specialist Department of Occupational Safety and Health American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations Before the Senate Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Regulation Committee on Environment and Public Works on S. 656, the Indoor Air Quality Act of 930000
- 87805849 Ets / Iaq Report Fax Communication Sheet
- 87805851-5928 Report on Recent Ets and Iaq Developments
- 87805878-5926 Flue-Cured Tobacco Cooperative Stabilization Corporation Plaintiffs, Vs. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Defendants. Civil Action No. 619301370 Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief
- 87805927 Tobacco Firms Sue Epa on Cancer Ruling Secondhand - Smoke Studies Based on Fudged Data, Industry Alleges
- 87805928 Ets / Iaq Report Fax Communication Sheet
Related Documents:
Document Images
ISSUE 46, APPENDIX C
Background for "Indoor Environment '93":
Excerpts From the ASH Special Report on ETS
ACTION ON SMOKING AND HEALTH
2013 H St., N.W. Washington D.C. 20006 (202) 659-4310
INVOLUNTARY SMOKING:
The Factual Basis for Action
"INVOLUNTARY SMOKING" or "PASSIVE SMOKING," sometimes even called "RESPIRATORY
RAPE" - it all means the same thing: being forced to inhale other people's tobacco smoke.
Today we know that this substance, now called "Environmental Tobacco Smoke" (ETS) or
"secondhand smoke," is the deadliest danger to which we are exposed. Indeed, it kills more Americans
than
all forms of air pollution, water pollution, food additives, and radiation combined; more than all
automobile
accidents, guns, AIDS, and illicit drugs - a staggering 53,000 innocent victims each and every year!
This document presents the major findings of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Report
on passive smoking, and other recent studies and information in a form which can be used to convince
business leaders, legislators, agency officials, judges, and others of the need to protect the
majority of
Americans who don't smoke (including all children) from the deadly effects of ETS. This, the experts
and
the agencies tell us, can only be done by restricting smoking in all public places; there is no safe
lower level
for the dozens of dangerous chemicals in tobacco smoke which drift and are recirculated, and' cannot
be
filtered out or otherwise eliminated by even the finest ventilation systems.
Portions of the complete 16-page ASH Special Report are being distributed free to attendees of
"Indoor Environment '93." Complete copies are available from ASH. $2/each
Table of Contents of Entire Report
PAGE 2 presents the official findings of five government
agencies that~ ETS causes lung cancer in nonsmokers
PAGE 3 answers commonly asked questions about how
we know that ETS causes lung cancer in nonsmokers
PAGE 4 explains how ETS is the third major U'.S. killer,
how it kills over 50,000 Americans each year
PAGE 5 answers the tobacco industry's major arguments
concerning ETS studies, and provides three questions
which should be asked of any witnesses defending ETS
PAGE 6 describes how ETS creates very serious health
hazards for all children, and cites the major studies
PAGE 7 explains how courts protect children: from ETS
through court orders and through custody decisions
PAGE 8 notes what major newspapers and organizations
are saying and doing concerning public smoking
PAGE 9 indicates the legal theories under which owners
and employees are being held' liable for permitting
smoking, and cites some of the major legal decisions
PAGES 10-14 reprint of the complete verbatim text of!
the EPA Report's "Summary and Conclusions"
PAGE 15 reprints additional important information
from the EPA Report, including additional citations
PAGE 16 tells what you can do to protect yourself and
others, and where to get additional information
What We Know About ETS Todav.
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a "Group A
Carcinogen" like asbestos and benzene - one of the few
substances known to cause cancer in humans and for
which there is no safe lower limit. Each year it kills:
an estimated 53,000, Americans:
more people than alli the victims of automobile
accidents, including those caused'iby drunken drivers;
more than twice as many people as all homicides,
including homicides caused by firearms;
more than twice as many people as AIDS;
more than ten times as many people as all the illicit
drugs we target in our "war on drugs"
ETS presents even greater dangers to children. Each
year, even at the levels found in a home where onlw one
parent smokes, it is estimated to cause in infants:
150,0001300,000 lower respiratory infections like
pneumonia and bronchitis
7,500-15,000 hospitalizations
200,00011,000,000 asthma attacks
8,000-26,000 new cases of asthma
increased middle ear effusion
respiratory symptoms of irritation
significantly reduced lung function
a large increase in the risk of death from S.I.D,S.
LEGAL ACTION AND EDUCATION ON THE HAZARDS OF SMOKING PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF THE NONSMOKING
MAJORITY
878fl5'73G

SH
- SPECIAL REPORT ON INVOLUNTARY SMOKING
Page 3
How we know ETS causes lung cancer
Q: How do we establish that a sub-
stance causes cancer?
A: Usualh, because the cancer-causing
effects are so small, scientists subject
laboratory animals to doses hundreds or
thousands of times the equivalent of
human exposure. Then we see if there
is an increase in the incidence of cancer.
In some cases we have been able to
observe the effects of very high doses
directly on~ humans; e.g., uranium
workers exposed to radon. In both
cases, because we have never found a
safe level below which a carcinogen
doesn't cause cancer, we must assume -
until proven otherwise - that it can~
cause cancer in any concentration.
Q: Does this mean we usuallv have no
studies showing that a chemical causes
cancer at the levels at which it is nor-
mally encountered?
A: That's right - such studies are usual-
1y not available. For example there are
no studies showing that radon at typical
levels found in homes causes cancer.
The same is true for most of the other
carcinogens regulated by various agen-
cies. Fortunately, these normal-level (so
called' "'epidemiological")' studies are
available for ETS, and show what hap-
pens at typical ETS levels in homes.
Q: Is there anyy evidence, in the ab
sence of these epidemiological studies,
which shows that ETS causes cancer?
A: Yes, many different types:
FIRST, more than 40 individual
chemicals present in ETS have indepen-
dently been found to cause cancer, and
there is obviously no reason to believe
that they lose their cancer-causing prop-
erties when mixed with other toxins in
ETS.
SECOND, thousands of studies have
demonstrated that mainstream tobacco
smoke - which contains virtually the
same chemicals as ETS - causes cancer
in the lungs of smokers, as well as in
animals such as mice and rats.
THIRD, numerous studies showw that
nonsmokers absorb large amounts of
these chemicals into their bodies - in
some cases the equivalent of a pack a
day - even if they are seated in no-
smoking sections, and that they retain
the chemicals for long periods of time.
THUS, this evidence even by itself is
far stronger than that under which
most carcinogens are regulated. As the
U.S. Surgeon General said in his 1986
Report: "In examining a low-dose expo-
sure to a known carcinogens it is rare to
have such an abundance of evidence on
which to make a judgment, and given
this abundance of' evidence, a clear
judgment can now be made: exposure
to [ETS] is a cause of lung cancer."
Q: How were the epidemiological
studies [listed on page 15]' done?
A: The studies examine comparable
groups of people to see if the one regu-
lhrh exposed to ETS had higher rates of'lung cancer than the one which was
not. In virtually all cases, those ex-
posed to ETS had higher lung cancer
rates than those who were noo exposed.
Moreover, where it was possible to
measure the amounts of the exposure,
those with the most exposure generally
had the highest rates of lung cancer.
Q: How do we know that other
things didn't cause the higher rates?
A: Individual! researchers and EPA
scientists looked for these other factors,
but found none which could'expiain the
higher rates in the many different stud-
ies in so many different countries.
Also it is unlikelV that any of these
other causes would have increased di-
rectlv in proportion to ETS exposure..
cancer deaths in nonsmokers:
A: The evidence today is far stronger
and more conclusive than with regard
to virtually any other chemical.
In 1986 the National Academy of
Sciences - an~ official and impartial
body established'bv Congress - unani-
mously concluded that ETS caused lung
cancer in humans. The same vear the
U.S. Surgeon General reached the
same conclusion. [see page 2]
Indeed, numerous other scientific and
medical organizations reached exactly
the same conclusion even prior to the
EP A Report, and none has ever reached
the opposite conclusion. (see page 2]
Q: Could the EPA have been biased?
A: The EPA Report was prepared by a
large number of scientists with the help
of consultants from many different
independent organizations. It was then
subjected to scrutiny - including publie
hearings open to all critics and objectors
- by a Science Advisory Board (SAB)')
composed of other scientists.
Even though almost half of the mem-
bers of the SAB, including its chairman,
admitted to having direct financial ties
to the tobacco industry, the SAB never-
theless unanimously agreed with the
EPA that ETS caused cancer M humans.
Besides, alleged bias by the EPA czn't
explain why every other scientific bodv
both here and abroad which examined
the issue reached the same conclusion.
"ETS is a human lung carcin-
ogen, responsible for approxi-
mateh 3,C00 lung cancer
deaths annually in U.S. non-
smokers." (EPA Report at f-l.]i
Q: How strong is the evidence that
ETS causes lung cancer and lung
Q: Is 3000 a large number of deaths?
A: Yes. It is more than 3C times those
estimated to be caused by all EPA-regu-
lated cancer-causing chemicals. [see box
below]
Annual Cancer Deaths
Asbestos ............ 15/yr
Vinyl chloride ....... <?7 /vr
Airborne radionuclides . . 17/yr
Coke-oven emissions . . < 15L-r
Benzene ............. 8/yr
Arsenic ............. <51yr
Smurcr: Rep,ca. Rn2i.Anii.+.a. \'l:. \c;. :r9:
This is a special isue of the ASH S»to4ing.nd Health Review (fSSN ' 1C3 6-9077:C1. Copyrighted by
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)4 _C1: H'.Sn. \D; ;,u'ase.. DC
2CCC6. (2:-_'1 659-43iC. ASH is a national nonprofit, tax-exempt organitation concerned o,ith the
problems of smoking, and the rights of nonsmokers. ASH' is entire!.
supported'bv tax-deductib!e contributions.,and regu!ar, contributors receive the ASH Review. Printed
portions of the ASH Rrt+xm ma. be reprinted nitfi credit to ASH..

,.,~4SH
VJ- SPECIAL REPORT ON INVOLUNTARY SMOKING
ETS is the third major U.S. killer
The EPA Report concluded that ETS
causes approximatelv 3000 nonsmoker
deaths annually from lung cancer, but
that's only the tip of the iceberg.
Actually, other studies noted by the
EPA strongly suggest that ETS causes
53;000 U.S. deaths each year, making it
the third major killer - after active
smoking (by smokers) and alcohol!
It is not surprising that passive smok-
ing causes diseases other than~ lung
cancer, or that lung cancer was the first
disease definitively linked to ETS. The
same thing happened with regard to
active smoking.
"amestimated 53,000 Americans die
each year from' exposure to tobacco
smoke of~ others." Dr. Antonia C.
Nbvello, U.S Surgeon General
Annual Deaths, Passive Smoking
Heart Disease ......... 37;000
Lung Cancer ........... 3,700
Other Cancers ......... 12,000
TOTAL .......... - 53,000
SOCRCe_ Glantz,. et al .. Passtve Smoking and: Hean
D,sease.,Circulatson 1991:63.1.1-11. see, also N'ells. An
emmateof adult monalrtv in the CS.S from passive
smo'asng Ennr !ht 199_:2 639,
.
The original Surgeon' General's report'
concluded that smoking caused lung
cancer in smokers. Only later did we
realize that it also causes heart attacks,,
and cancer at many other sites. This
also appears to be happening with ETS.
The EPA Report stated: "While this
report focuses only on the respiratory
health effects of passive smoking, there
also may be other health effects of
concern. Recent analyses . . . suggest
that ETS exposure may be a risk factor
for cardiovascular disease. . . . If it' is,
the totaDpublic health impact from ETS
will be greater than that discussed:
here."
A recent analysis of almost a dozen
epidemiological studies concluded'' that
ETS increased the risk of heart attack
among people living with smokers.
In addition' the principal author
[Glantz) noted that since smokers are
much more densely packed in an office
than the,v are in' most houses, "we are
almost cenainly underestimating the
risks" of workplace smoking.
The epidemiological studies upon
which the article was based are believed
to be particularly reliable because they
generally show a "dose-response" effect,
with higher exposure causing a higher
risk of heart attack. This tends to show
that it is the ETS - and not some otherr
factor - which is causing the deaths.
The studyy also outlines at least five
ways in which ETS contributes to
hearth attacks.
First, the transportation of oxygen to
red'''blood cells is immediatelv hampered
by the carbon monoxide (CO) in~ ETS.
The CO replaces the oxygen which is
ordinarily carried by the red'' blood
cells.
Second, other studies show that the
blood not onlv does not carry the
oxygen as well, but also that the oxygen
a-hich does get to the heart isn't used
bv the heart muscle to do work as
efficiently.
Third, there's evidence that ETS
makes bloo& platelets abnormally
"sticky,"' and thus more likely to aggre-
gate and form~ blood clots.
Fourth, while increased platelet aggre-
gation plays a direct role in' heart at-
tacks, it also contributes to the develop-
ment of atherosclerotic plaques, the
fatty deposits on the walls of coronarn.
arteries which often lead to heart at-
tacks.
Fifth, components of ambient tobacco'
smoke may damage the delicate inner
walls of'~ coronary arteries, and initiate
or accelerate development of these
plaques.
In the next column are the major
epidemiological studies linking ETS to
heart attacks. Immediateltiy following
are studies which suggest that ETS
causes cancers other than lung cancer.
Page 4
BGTLPR. The relationshep of pasuve.smoklmR tovanous hesith
outcomes among Seaeath'-Dar Ad,entssts in Caiafornua. )e.enth
VCorld Conf<renet on Tobacco andHealth 199:J16'. GAR-
IaND, rr al... Effects of Pasn.e SYnoksng on Ischemrc Hun
Disease Monahrv of.\onsmoken. Ans J Ep~demsol 19g5:1:1.6a5-
65C GIIUIS. ec al.. The Effecs of E'nstronmensa) Tobacco
Smoke in T+ro Urban Carssmnnmes in the West of Scaiand.. Euro
J Resp Dn 19fa.65(Suppl 1331:It1.i26. HE. tinmen'npass.se
smoking and coronarv heart diseue. Chung-Hus-YuFanpl-Hsurh.
Tu{hm 19/9: !3 ~19d2 HEISING. nal I. Hean. Disease
5lonabn vn \cnsmokers Lnng With Smokrrs.. Am JEpudrmioi
19gg.L'.',915-9'_? HOIF, et a1_:Passsve smokusg and car~'~ore-
spsntorv hultksn a general population in the vta oi Sectland: Br\fed:J. 1919199a?3-427 HUMBLE.
Passive smoiang and
nenn 3'rar.cardsovasndar dJstast monahrv among nonsmofunS
ss.es m Evans Countyr Georgra, Am J Public Hcahb 190:: g: 599-
6:1 LEE. et al... ReliuonsWp of Passsve Smokmg to Rssk of
Lung Cancer and Other Smokmg-Assoctatrd Dnrasas. Be J of
Cancer 1916.54.97-1:5 HIRAYAMA. T. liungCancer tn
0
Annual Deaths, Various Causes
Active Smoking' . . . . . . 434,000
Alcoholic Beverages2 ... 105,C00
Passive Smoking' ....... 53,CC0
Auto Accidents' ....... 43,500
Homicides'' ........... 24,020
AIDSS .............. ,,,334
Fires' ................ 4,'00
Radon, to nonsmokerss . . . 4,000'
Cocaine & Crack' ....... 2,483
Heroin & lvlorphine'` . . . . 1,976
1~. C:S. Centers forDnnse Concroli 1911 2 C.S Cenaers for Daease Control; 1911? . 3
l'S,Sursros Grneu:-.199C
e. `it1'SaieraCounal. 1991 . S USStn J,rdKUrv.Conun.
Rpt. !991 e 6: Cs. CentersforDsrase.Concrnl_ 1991 . 7
IS.
Nst'8 SafttrCeunn,i. 199t Repsce. Rnk' Ans!.-_ V
No 1, t99;, :7 . 9. NatI Inst, on Drug Abwe. 199: .1: ..
Nail Inst on Dn.g Abuse. 199:.
Jlpan: Effects of Numtsnn and Passne SmokSng, in Lung Cancer-Causes and Prevenvon, M. \lsadll. et
al..eds.. pp 175-195.\'erla9
Cheme lnt1Ne. York, 19te. MARTIV:,M, . J Increased.
Incsdenct of Hean Acuek's u+ ;tiensrnok'ang Women \tarrsed to
Smokers. Paper presented at anmual m.nmgnr American Publu:
Health Assocsatmn, 1916 . . SYEEDLSND..K.. Passrve Smokrng
and tke risk of hrandusease. JA\fA.f1992116-9..99. SWEND-
SEN; et al. Effee<s o/ passsve smokmg Ihe mudt,pie nsk iaanr
sntenentson tnall Aen J.Eptdemso11917a:6-713-'93
CANCERS: StaTTERY. n al- Ggarenclmoksng and Eaponrre,
toPasss.e Smoke are Risk Faesors in Cerwcal Cancer. JANA. Vol.
261 (17), 1593-159g. \Lr 1991) HIRAYA.MA. T... Cancen.
\4orsalrv in Nonsmok.ng.lYbmen With Smoking Husbarsds BassJ
ona Large-Scale Coh'on Siudv in Japan: Prev \1hdJ :3(6}:6g:.d9C..
tios-. 1914 . GI W S. n al., The Effect of EnvsronmentA Tobacco
Smmoie.,n Ti.ro. L'rban Communsnes mthe \Sestoi Seotland. Eur.
J..Resp. Dn. 65(Suppl. 133) 1984 REYNOIDS, et al..
Pasnvr Smoking and.Caneer Inndrnee~Prespecuve Evdence from
th'e AtamrdlCaunm Srnds" Paper pneunted atthe Socsrn-ior
Ep,dem,oioga Research. Amherm. \Sass.. jiuse 1987 . Mll1FR..
0 H Cancer. Passsae )moksng and Nonampi6ved and Empioved.
N",vrs. Vl'ev J Neu M:.: 632e3i., 1994 . SANDLER, n ai.
Passne imokms. - Aduiihoo.i and:.ancrr Rui. Am j
Epidem.oi 121. PN1 1913
This is a special issue of thr.tSHSrrtoking.rtdHr.lth'Revuav ((SSN' 104(~907X0): Copynghted!by
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).?013 H St., NV:'. VL'asN:, DC
?0006. (.:2)'6594310 ASH is a national nonprofit tax-exempt organization concerned onh,thc
problems of smoking and the rights of nonsmokers. ASH ii enureh
8'7805'738

0SPECIAL REPORT ON INVOLUNTARY SMOKING
Page 5
Answering tobacco industry arguments on ETS studies
The tobacco industn (TI) purports to
find scientific flaws in the evidence that
tobacco smoke causes cancer in non-
smokers. However, since they also find
flaws in the overw helming evidence that
tobacco smoke causes cancer in smok-
ers, it is reasonablie to doubt their im-
partiality and their scientific credibility
on both issues. Nevertheless, here are
some of their major arguments, and
brief answers prepared by ASH.
TI: The EPA was biased.
ASH: It is very doubtful that the scien-
tific body which reviewed an& agreed
with the EPA's conclusions was biased
against tobacco, as almost half of its
members admitted to having direct
financial ties to the tobacco ind'ustn.
Since the more than a dozen govern-
mental, scientific, and medical bodies
which have reviewed the issue all agreed
that~ ETS causes cancer, and no indepen-
dent body has ever reached the opposite
conclusior., it is far more likely that the
tobacco industry's position is the one
motivated by bias and self interest.
TI: Studies showing increased inci-
dence of lung cancer from exposure to
ETS in the home don't prove that
ETS in the workplace or in public
places likewise causes cancer.
ASH: There is no reas= to believe that
chemicals shown to cause cancer in one
location would suddenly lose their
cancer-causing properties in another.
Although no studies done in schools
show that asbestos causes cancer, we
don't allow children to go to school
where asbestos is in the air.
TI: The EPA unscientifically relied on
studies which were not statistically
significant.
ASH: "Statistically significant," in this
context, means that an individual study
proves to at least a 95°!o probability that
ETS causes lung cancer. While we
sometimes needithis very high degree of.f
certainty before taking action, lower
standards (e.g., 90%) are often used, and
have been accepted by courts. After all,
shoul& nonsmokers be subjected to a
substance if we are only 90% (rather
than 95%)~ certain that it causes lung
cancer?
TI: The EPA unfairly combined dif-
ferent studies.
ASH: Many studies all pointing im one
direction often prove causation to a far
greater certainty than any single study.
Flipping a coin and having it come up
heads 56 out of 100 tries only proves to
about a 90% (not 95%) certainty that
the coin is imbalanced. But if it keeps
coming up heads more often than tails
in study after study of 100-200 flips, the
odds of that happening by chance be-
come so small we can say aith~virtual
certainty that something other than
chance i's causing it to favor heads.
Here, looking at different combina-
tions of the larger and better studies,
the EPA says the odds of the results
occurring, by mere chance range be-
tween 1 in 10,OC0~to I in 1,00C,CCJ,CCO:
In other words, the EPA judged the
overall statistical significance of the
studies to be at least 99:999^°!!
For additional information and argu-
ments refuting the tobacco industry's
challenges to the EPA Report, see the
EPA Report; excerpts from it on pages
11-14 of this document; and Repace &
Lowrev, "Issues and answers concerning
passive smoking in the workplhce: re-
butting tobacco industry arguments,"'
Tobacco Control 1992; 1:208-219.
ETS CAUSES CANCER
The following organizations
have all concluded that Envi-
ronmental Tobacco Smoke
(ETS) causes lung cancer and
lung cancer deaths among
nonsmokers:
American Cancer Society
American Heart Association
American Lung Association
American Medical
Association
American Public Health
Association
Environmental Prot~ection
Agency
National Academy of
Sciences
National Cancer Institute
National Institute for Occu-
pational Safety and Health
U.S. Public Health Service
U.S. Surgeon General
World Health Organization
TI: The answer to ETS problems is
better ventilation, not smoking bans.
ASH: Many studies and scientific bodies
have concluded that the risks from~ ETS
remain higher - even in buildings with
the best ventilating systems - than we
would accept in other circumstance.
For example, air pollution levels in
many public places were foun& to ex-
ceed federal outdoor air quality criteria,
even in the "no smoking"' sections.
Repace & Lowrey, "Indoor Air Pollu-
tion ...," Science, Vol'. 208, 5/2/80.
Even separate smoking rooms don't
provide acceptable levels of protection
since tobacco smoke is recirculated. No
filter can remove the cancer-causing
gases, and most of the cancer-causing
particles are too smaR to be 'rapped.
Repace & Lowrey, "An Indoor Air
Quality Standard . .," NY State J.
Med., 85:381-83 (1985).
-his is a speaal issue of thc ASH Smoking and Health Revrw (15S` 1Z16-9Z7XC). C°pvngnted by Action
on Smoking and Heaith, (ASH). 2-1 3 N' St. NT. u un- DC
10006, (2C2) 659-4310. ASH is a national nonprofit, tax-exempt orgaiuzation concerned ..-ith the
problems of smoking and the rights of nonsmokers. ASK' is entire:p
supported by tax-deductible contributions. and regular contributors receive the ASH Rrvtew. Printed
pontor» of thc ASH Re-.new may be repr med with eredit to ASH.

1,~4SH
~(J SPECIAL REPORT ON INVOLUNTARY SMOKING
What others
are saying and doing about ETS
"EPA Report Sparks Antismoking
Plans: Plaintiffs' Suits May Prod
Firms To Bar Smoking - The
[EPA] is counting mainly on plain-
tiff's lawyers, rather than regulators,
to drive businesses to ban smoking
on their premises, and the lawyers
are eager to comply. As a result of
the EPA's report linking 'passive'
tobacco smoke to lung cancer and
other ailments, a new wave of
tobacco-related! lawsuits is likelv,
legal specialists say. These are
expected to include workers' com-
pensation claims [andJ damages suits
by customers who experience ad-
verse reactions." Wall Street Jour-
nal~ 1/7/93
"Already,, 56% of organizations sur-
veyed are completely smoke-free; by the
year 2002, another 40% a: l have enact-
ed a smoke-free policy. ~'~nly 4% said
they expected to cont:n;:e allowing
smoking during the next 10 years."
International Facility Management
Association
"It's just a matter of time before smok-
ing is completely banned in the work-
p15ce. It will happen in 10 years - may-
be less." National Alliance of Business
"WV Our Kids Are Breathing.
Easier: Our Restaurant is Now a
Smoke-Free Environment - Since
we are a restaurant concept catering
to families, we are always concerned
about health risks affecting children.
One of' those risks is the effect of
second-hand~ smoke. Recent health
advisories have studied the effects of
second-hand smoke and because of
the results, we have determined it is
a risk we cannot afford to take.
therefore, our restaurant is now a
smoke-free environment." ShowBiz
Pizza Time, Inc. [ChuckEChecse]
"Employers that continue to allow
smoking in the workplace, even under
the most restrictive circumstances, may
be more vulnerable than ever to litiga-
tion by nonsmokers."' Employee Bene-
fit News, 3/93.
"'More and more the owners or opera-
tors of public facilities like the Orioles
are sending tobacco smoke the way of
flaking asbestos - and for the same
reason. It kills innocent people."
Baltimore Sun, 1/10
"When I learned that second-hand;
smoke is a known carcinogen with no
safe level of exposure, and that air-con-
ditioning simply recirculates it, I decid-
ed I did not want my family, my cus-
tomers or my employees to breathe
tobacco smoke. Ten months ago I
made all four of my restaurants no
smoking.. . yet [my restaurants'] sales
are about the same. I've had a few
guests upset about my policy, but most
of thems after hearing the reas= whv
decided to stay." Pasadena [CA] Res-
taurant Owner
"If indoor smoking isn't curbed, some
people who think they've been put at
risk by secondhand smoke may wind
up taking their complaints to court."
Raleigh News & Observer, 1/10
"An increasing number (;of restaurants)
are in the process of banning smoking.
There is not a chain in the country that
is not considering it today." National
Restaurant Association
"McDonald's Corp., the world's largest
restaurant operator, is considering ban-
ning smoking in its nearly 9,000 U.S.
outlets .. McDonald's . . has been a
kind of corporate weather vane on
social policy issues." Washington Post,
2/19/93
"As a result of the EPA ruling, Grey-
hound Lines Inc. says it plans to reas-
sess a smoking policy that had alreadv
Page 8
"The Heat is on: Anti-smokers
Promise an All-Out War This
Year, and They're Going After
Restaurants - Even before the
EPA declared secondhand smoke a
Class A carcinogen - along with
asbestos and benzene - the nation-
wide movement to ban virtually all
smoking in restaurants had roared
to a blaze. Three years ago, only
three localities had outlawed smok-
ing, either in restaurants or all
workplaces. By [1/1/93J, the total
was up to 47 (including]IFlagstaff,
Ariz., Stockbridge,,'vIass., and Madir
son, Wisc." Restaurant Business,
2/10/93,
grown increasinglyy restrictive in recent
years. 'Given the EPA findings, we
will seriously consider abandoning
smoking for all of our locations.'"
Wall Street Journal, 1J7/93
"No one would grant his neighbor the
right to blow tiny amounts of asbestos
into a room or sprinkle traces of' pesti-
cide onto food. By the same logic,
smokers have no right to spew even
more noxious clouds into the air
around them."' New York Times, 1/16
"Lawmaker Would Punish Drivers
Who Smoke With Kids in the Car
- Anyone caught smoking in a car
carrying kids under 16 .. would be
fined S50 under legislation proposed
.. by state Rep. Peter Daley. The
Washington County [PA] Democrat
says the bill was spurred by a Janu-
ary report from the [EPA) docu-
menting the health risks to children
from secondary smoke. 'The major
focus of that report was the fact
that secondan tobacco smoke
causes serious health problems for
thousands of American children.'
Dalevv said." U:P.I, 3/3/93.
Ttiis is a special issue o6 the ASH S»sokieg .nd Healih Retxw QSSN 10a6907a0). Copyrighted by ,
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH); 2C13 H St.. NW. Wash.. DC
20006, (202) 6i9.4310. ASH is a national nonprofit. taxesempt orgutization concerned aith thc
problems of smoking and the rights of nonsmokers. ASH is entireh
su.nnnrted h- tisaicduitihlc cnntrihutinn.. snd rec.tl,r .nntrihutnrc reocivethcASHRrts>u, n,n,rcl
n-.,n.ACH Rrtv+rm- k----ni -^ , ^dil ,n ACiY
8'7805'740

an
W- SPECIAL REPORT ON INVOLUNTARY SMOKING
Legal liability for permitting smoking
Even without the new evidence now
available in the EPA Report, workers
have long been able to recover com-
pensation for injuries cause& by expo-
sure to tobacco smoke. So far, they
have been successful under a variety of
legal theories and doctrines:
common law and negligence: when
an employer fails to provide a rea-
sonabh safe and healthful work-
place, even in the absence of a
statute;
workers' compensation: designed to
compensate workers for job-related
injuries and health problems;,
unemployment insurance: protects
workers who lose their jobs
through no fault of their own;
disability: to protect workers made
unable to work;, an& even
discrimination:' unfair retaliation
against nonsmokers
In addition, a number of rulings held
that persons who are sensitive to tobac-
co smoke are "handicapped persons."
That meant that entities covered by the
law at the time - governments and
large recipients of federal funds - had
to make a reasonable accommodation to
protect such people.
Since the new Americans With Dis-
abilities Act (ADA) imposes the same
obligations on virtually all businesses,
many more legal actions under this
theory are likely to be filed and to be
successful. Already, ASH has filed an
ADA complaint against an airport, and
ADA lawsuits have been filed against
McDonald's and other fast-food outlets.
The EPA Report is likely to make it
much easier for employees to prove the
harmful effect of ETS in all of the types
of cases outlined above. It is also likely
to open the door for new types of suits-
For example, a child brought into the
smoking section of a fast-food restau-
rant or other public place could sue the
owner if'~he or she suffered an asthmatic
attack or other medical problem as a
result. In such a suit, the carelessness of
the adult who brought the child into
the smoking sectiom is not a valid legal
Cases of Particular Interest
Smoke drifting up from a first-
floor smoking area into a second-
floor classroom was enough to
trigger chronic lung disease in x
teacher who was awarded 529;999,'
A waiter who suffered a heart
attack as a result of'' working in a
smoke-filled bar received 595,000.=
A secretary was held to be "envi-
ronmentally disabled" because she
could not work where she was
exposed' to tobacco smoke. Her
employer paid her S50;000' plus
5500/mo for the rest of her life,,
even though she was free to work
in any other smoke-free office.'
Pointing out that smoking was
banned in one room because it
adversely affected a computer, a
judge, even' prior to evidence of
lbng-term health hazards from ETS,
ordered a smoking ban in the office
of a smoke-sensitive employee.a
An Army employee sensitive to
tobacco smoke was a "handicapped
person" under the Federal Rehabili-
tation Act, and his employer was
required to make a reasonable ac-
commodation to his handicap.5
A government employee had' no
righr to smoke, and' could be fired
for smoking even one cigarette on
his own time off the job.b
iL Schd)Irr v.,Los Angeles Cmhed School: Diancs PAS 656.
PAS 175:. LA6:7f".9, CGhf Workeri Comprnutmn
Appeals Bnard, 3/2^/92: 2. Lbht v. Staue Compensauon
Innuanee Fund. Cat-N' Fiddle Restaurant (C+li[. tY'orkrrs'
Compensation Appeals Board 199:): . 3. Piarod, v\fens
Systems Ptotecuon Baard'697 ~Fad 7)1(91h Car. 1912). +.
Shsmp v. Nea- Jersey BeB. Telepltone Company, 366 A1d
+08 (1976);. 5. Plenen v Departmens of the Atmv, L'5.
\feat SVitems Protection Board Nos. CH"-75211:1::99,
CH:1527 29:1 (1981):. see also t',ckenv.The t'emons
Admsmnuurm..S+B F. 5upp 85 (19829. V"eer v: Oldae wPersonnrl \1ana8ement (\li'nr Sissrms
ProtecttanBo+na-
Dallas ReBtonal OIlrce. Dockn ~o DA 831L861:~j l l 1986/.
6: . Gwendori v: Cnv on Oklahoma Gsv, 116F2d 539.
!1-th.. C,.r. 19871 ~.
Page 9
defense for the business.
Similar legal actions could' also be
brought on, behalf of young children
who suffered medical problems as a
result of exposure in the smoking sec-
tions of airplanes on overseas flights.
Some of the legal precedents involving
exposure to tobacco smoke are dis-
cussed or cited on this page.
COMMON. L1>tr: Hemss) v. SmBer183. Cal.i Rpsr 159. (App
19121:: Smmh v. VC'enern Eleevrc Compan. 6+3, 5 W . :d Ato.
App. 1983)
NEGLIGENCE: 'scCarslip, v. Depanmenc of Socul Hrauti
Senices. 11: Wash. d 812, 759P.2d 351 (19/81
a'ORSMEN'S COMPEN5ATION= Brookss v Tnm.)Conid
Aulma ee al Caldornu tYorkm~en:'s Compensumn Apprals
Board.: Case No 76 SF 257-975 (.197'1; Schober v V ountarn 3ell
Telephone N.\f.: App 63: P,d./2+1 i198!l: Bncheiorv. Fresno.
Couniv (C+ldornul d196:): !n she Matter of the Com~penunon
oi SlarkneV['.' Anchse...OreBon VCorkers' Compenutton.Board.
WCB CaseNo. B.L7248- CGsm tio. D69:SC8..WCDNo Nonr
5 5,N ..5i3-r6-56P (198570 In the V aosrr of she Compensaaon oi .
Stan-.1. Dou-nev. Oregon `t'ork'ersCcc.pensauon Board WCB
Case No 63-:19C1. Clarm ~No D6:5:9:. DEl! 'a'CD ~Fae
No. C15179G. SSN'593=3+2883 (1985):, Jland R Eler. No :853
,
28:..fh 1-..VC-orien' Comp, Bd.: Dec 1988, (N-ESTLA>C.,k1WC-
AD\bN.datahase. 1929 Vsl 1917:+): JohSnnesrn v 1r. York .
Gn Department oi . HouunB Presenatwn and Devrlnpmem .1 L4 ,
A.D: 2d 753; 3+6.I:.Y.S 2d +^. (196'fr ';wahi.v. ti`nconnn Bri;.
Inc...(Wtsconsm .abor and Indunrtai. Re- Commauon, a.:anm.
No. 88:..:676. 199C)', Bem w Stassacfsusens Turnpske Authornv tRepon oi Adssmussrauve JudBe of
thc Depar-mer.toi Induanall.
Acodent (Dunne Solomon) Board: No. :392s-:86.. Octeber :..,
1991); Servrnv The Chdd Cmter (}t'orkers' Compenut.on
Board of ILsdiana Appitcatson \umben 11:+9C- Janusn 6. 199]'i ,
L".VES'IPLOYME\T INSIIRANCE:Hahman._N YSDepan-
ment oi La6or. F.A. Russo Incorp; 5.5 A. e1:=3:-H65. Appeal'
e'-33:526, Rrferee 76.)2983 (19761-, Stn- s-C-P. Clarr. and
Campanv. et, a).. Industnal Communon oi.Idilio DOE 615-CB
(19711)- Aleaander v Cnemplmvmen:Ins. AppealsB,1. ::+ CG1.
App. ~f 97, G1. Rptr 411 .(198C), , Ennu and SeroehmannBro.s....
Pennsvlvanu tlnemplovment . Compensauon: Board: of Reac-
AppealNo 8-83-SR-2+. Deas,on Nc 82135::G (198ri:
>1eCrocklm v Emplovment Developmem Depar.mrnte: lI 15e
C.1. App.?d 1:67. 2:5Cal Rp:r 156'lCa: App. - vsn.. Deve.,
198+i. Laph'arn v. Commo-alth Cnemplo,m.rnr Compenu-
eson Board. 519 A.2d 11:1 (Pa. Cm.ish:.l98'1.
DISCABMINATiON AGAINST NONSMOKERSo Tar, Wa..vArerABenev on ApnB Initial Derermmauen..EOC CGSe
Equai Opporrunases Comm.- Cim of \fsdison. R-fsconssn (19.^,:..
Department of Fatr Empiovment andHousmBv. Frrmna
.
Coun,. CaidornuFasn Empiovmenu and Hkusm6 Commns-
C+se No. FEP81,/: C8::C9ph (196+). Depanrnent of FiuEmpi-nsand'HousmB v. Cou- oi..FresnoDepartmem
ct,
SOC41St-cesCastNof FEP62-L'C9~'e+p.F'_^83-BS.C9.::+srr
N_16+3 FEP8L83.C9::85p. FEP8:-63 C9:19ere N*2165] tl9s>':.
Counn-of.Fresnov: Fav Empl6vment.and Houstn8 CSmm:s-
aonobshe Swm.of Caldornu: Brooks ana Capo. RruilPannen.
.
m IAteren. Ct ob App. State of Caldornu. Fifth App Dsss. 266
0). App. Sd 15+1, 277.Ca1. Rptr 555: J+nua- 23. 1991):
FEDERAL REHABILITATION ACT CASES fDISABILITYAND HANDICAP):Flamk'en. v. Off- or Personnd
%tanaeemen.t. L'S. \Ierrt SvarmsProtem- Board: Da;las F:eid Othce
No. DAH31L1---1i (J91:11 R4tucCnned 5tasn Ponai,5enae
(Equal. EmplovmentOpporrsmrtrCommusucn. Appeall 1b
:1853426. 19671.
This is a sperui issue of the ASH Srraoking and'Health Revmw (ISSN 1Ci6-9C7XC). Coprrtghted br
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH);,_:13 H':=t.. NXV:,V'ash.- DC
2=26(2i,3) 659-j*31C. ASH is a nationalinonprofit& tir-exempt orgamzauon concerned with the
problems of smoking and the rtghts of nommoke;s. ASH is entirciY
supported by taad6duetible contributions- and regular contributors receive the ASH Revsew: Printed
portions of thc ASH Resnew mav be reprinted s'nh ereaic to ASH..
