Philip Morris
Fields
- Author
- Kloepfer, W., J.R.
- Author (Organization)
- TI, Tobacco Inst
- Type
- LETT, LETTER
- Document File
- 2026331826/2026331919/E.T.S. 850800
- Area
- SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS/BLACK LATERAL OLD S&T
- Site
- R529
- Copied
- Cullman, H.
- Characteristic
- ATCH, ATTACHMENTS MISSING
- Request
- Stmn/R1-004
- Stmn/R1-037
- Named Organization
- Business Roundtable
- Honeywell
- TI, Tobacco Inst
- Honeywell
- Recipient
- Spencer, E.
- Litigation
- Stmn/Produced
- Master ID
- 2026331872/1880
Related Documents: - Named Person
- Cullman, H.
- Recipient (Organization)
- Honeywell
- Date Loaded
- 05 Jun 1998
- UCSF Legacy ID
- xok14e00
Document Images
THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE
1875 L STREET. , NORTHWEST
W aSHINGTON. DC 20006
202'457-4800 8001A2+,9876
June 28, 1985
Mr. Edson Spencer
Chief Executive Officer
Honeywe 1 ]l
Corporate Headquarters
P. 0. Box 426
Honeywell Plaza
Minneapolis, MN 55402
WILLLLM KLO EP FER. TR.
Senior Vice President-
Public Relations
202,'457 -4881
Dear Mr. Spencer:
Hugh Cullman, Vice Chairman, Philip Morris Inc., told me
of his conversation with you at the recent Business Round-
table Washington meeting about the February 1985 Honeywell
Technalysis report, "Indoor Air Quality: A National
Survey of Office Worker Attitudes."' As you well know,
indoor air quality is a topic of increasing interest tQ
many people. The Tobacco Institute is interested because
tobacco smoke is frequently mentioned as a contributor to
indoor air quality. Hugh told me that you`welcomed further
comments about the survey.
We were gratified to read that the survey results con-
cluded that office workers are highly satisfied with air
quality in their workplaces. An overwhelming majority of
respondents (76 percent) said air quality in their work
environment is excellent or good. Only six percent said
air quality was poor; 1!8 pescent said it was fair.
Despite this overwhelming approval, we are concerned that
the survey seemed to magnify an air quality problem by
directing a series of questions only to respondents who
characterized indoor air quality as fair or poor or to
respondents who reported difficulty doing work because of
air quality. (As noted, only 24 percent of the sample
said air quality was fair or poor; 20 percent of the total
sample often or sometimes had difficulty working because
of air quality.) We assume that most if not all of the 20
percent were among the 24 percent.
As a result of this means of questioning, tobacco smoke Nseems overemphasized as an indoor air
quality problem, N
although relatively few persons among the 600 workers w
surveyed consider it to be one. ~
co
W

Mr. Edson 'Spencer
June 28, 1985
Page 2
In fact, only eight percent of all respondents believed
cigarette smoke contributed to Tair or poor air quality.
Only 10 percent of all respondents considered tobacco
smoke as a serious problem that interferes with job
productivity. We were only able to discern these facts by
making computations based on the tabular material in the
survey report.
By using as a basis for computation the small segment of
the sample -- those respondents who said air quality was
only fair or poor -- the report finds 34 percent holding
cigarette smoke responsible. Another 34 percent attri-
buted the problem to poor circulation/ventilation (See
Honeywell Table 7).
In addition, the survey reports 27 percent of respondents
who said they had difficulty working because of air
quality said cigarette smoke was a very seri'ous problem.
Another 27 percent said it was "somewhat serious." Most
respondents designated lack of air movement as the most
serious problem (See Honeywell Table 10).
In appears, to be quite candid about it, that these
distortions have led to several new articles on the
Honeywell study, enclosed, which have reported that poor
ventilation and cigarette smoke are the top air quality
problems that interfere with worker productivity.
Although an overwhelming majority of survey respondents
express high satisfacion with indoor air, these articles
erroneously portray indoor air quality as a significant
problem that seriously affects worker productivity.
Indoor air quality no doubt will continue to be an issue
of concern in the 1980's. Responsible efforts to assess
the true nature and impact will contribute to the interest
of employers and employees alike.
Cordially,
0
William Kloepfe'r, Jr. W
W
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Enclosure
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