Experimental studies
in which animals are exposed to tobacco smoke have produced
results supporting the carcinogenicity of passive smoking. The
International Agency for Research on Cancer expert group
concluded that:
There is limited evidence in experimental animals for the
carcinogenicity of mixtures of mainstream and sidestream tobacco
smoke. There is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for
the carcinogenicity of sidestream smoke condensates.
Secondhand smoke is generally recognized as a risk factor for
cancer in pets. A study conducted by the Tufts University School
of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Massachusetts
concluded that cats living with a smoker were more likely to get
feline lymphoma; the risk increased with the duration of
exposure to secondhand smoke and the number of smokers in the
household. A study by Colorado State University researchers,
looking at cases of canine lung cancer, was generally
inconclusive, though the authors reported a weak relation for
lung cancer in dogs exposed to environmental tobacco smoke.
In 1990, a tobacco-industry researcher in Germany proposed a
study of the effects on animals of lifetime exposure to
secondhand smoke. The proposed study was blocked by Philip
Morris, as described in an internal company report:
PM [Philip Morris] recently succeeded in blocking Adlkofer's
plan to conduct lifetime animal inhalation study of sidestream
smoke. ( . . .an INBIFO study has shown that in 90-day
inhalation test, no non-reversible changes has [sic] been
detected. In a lifetime study, the results were almost certain
to be less favorable. Based on the analysis, the other members
of the German industry agreed that the proposed study should not
proceed.).
Epidemiological studies of passive smoking Risk level >>
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Second Hand Smoke Passive smoking
Long-term
effects
Short-term
effects
Causal
mechanisms
Epidemiological studies of passive smoking
1. Studies of passive smoking in animals
2.
Risk level of passive smoking
Current state of scientific opinion
1. Public
opinion
Controversy over harms of passive smoking
1. Critique of individual studies and epidemiology
2. World Health Organization controversy
3. EPA lawsuit
4. Tobacco-industry funding of research
Tobacco industry response
1. Position of major tobacco companies
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