Tobacco Documents Online

August 23, 1995 Dr. Elizabeth Fontham Louisiana State University Medical Center 1901 Perdido Street, 5th Floor New Orleans, LA 70112 Dear Dr. Fontham: There is no issue in the current Congress that is more controversial than the assessment of environmental risks. Regardless of a persons party affiliation, position on environmental programs, or one's position on the proper role of the federal government, there is an absolute consensus in Congress on the need to maintain the highest standard of scientific integrity in assessing potential risks to which the American public may be exposed. As you are aware, your study on environmental tobacco smoke has become the lead study upon which EPA and OSHA are either initiating regulatory programs or advising local governments to initiate such regulatory programs. Consequently, it is essential that it reflect the current state of science on risk assessment. Unfortunately, I am compelled to inform you that this may not be the case. I say this upon consideration and review of the enclosed statistical analysis of your work which concludes that high exposure to environmental tobacco smoke presents no statistically significant risk. I am in no position to judge the results of the enclosed study; however, the analysis is sufficiently compelling to force me to request that you release the totality of the data used in your study to the Congressional Research Service. As you are aware, the Congressional Research Service has undertaken an indepth review of the risk assessment. I am cognizant of earlier arguments that you made regarding the disclosure of human health data specific to individuals. However, we are not requesting that the data released include the names of specific individuals or other obvious identifying information such as social security numbers, but instead we are requesting that you release only the base data

Dr. Elizabeth Fontham August 23, 1995 Page 2 so we are in a position to analyze more completely the conclusion contained in your study and to determine the reproductability of your results. In addition, we would appreciate your comments on the analysis and conclusions set forth in the enclosed study. Sincerely,