Three FACTS about Tobacco
It is a FACT that no scientifically proven direct
causal
relationship between smoking and disease has ever
been found
to exist. This remains true, despite the vast sums
of money
being spent on research by medical authorities and
by the
industry in attempting to trace any such link.
2. It is a FACT that a vast amount of statistical
data
exists, which is believed by many doctors and
authorities to
show that a causal link exists between smoking and
certain
diseases. t (').
4 ;avORO- zhis is the heart of the smoking
controversy, and
t.ie weight at evidence is not to be lightly
dismissed. -a *cc=
i ~ 3 ~, C A' ' * - ~ - -4 ' '
e""~' Cil')YP~even the strongest statistical data
can never
amoun: to direct proof of causation-on its own -
other
hypocheses, also suggested by doctors and research
workers, have to be considered, for example that
smoking
an,' disease may share a common cause in the
bodily
constitution, or that the living and working
conditions
of. the person concerned may be involved in the
disease
( iii ) aS;~ in any case the evidence does not all
point
one way - in'the 30,000 or more reports on this
subject
there are many anomalies and contradictions.
Indeed the
scientists at times disagree amongst themselves on
the
interoretation of the data and charges against
tobacco
can be supported by ~ne set of figures and
countered ~y
a~ozher- Even the best-informed opinions can
honestly
1 4 f e - on where the facts lie.
I r i S a 7ACT that many smokers and many health
a,,;:horities have expressed a preference for
cigarettes kith a
o and nicotine conten t the
-er tar
health effec:s Ctf any of these 0 r4any other
cigarettes are
L~nknown - -he tobacco companies are responsible
commercial
enterprises which are always prepared as far as
possible zo
g--ve :ne -cstomer what he wants and to fit in
it.i government
requ'rements. To this end they are constantly
modifying and
developing their products, and the cigarettes they
sell today
are far different from those of twenty and even
ten years
a g o -
Alchough it is clear that the allegations that
smoking
causes disease have not been proven, the reverse
is also
true - it has not been proved that smoking is not
possibl, a
health hazard. Consequently research into this
subject
be continjed.
C . e of a nown
itse 11 t9p may be o r. a I (ZD
Smc.ers and 0 n s m 0 _- s g e t d i a s e s NJ
C)
00
BAT Industries document for Province of British
Columbia 2 November 1999