Secondhand Smoke - Archive
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The ASH Archive contains information that is no longer current but is useful reference material. The information is held in a separate archive of each page.
Documents in the Archives can be accessed by a link on each page or by the ASH Archives page or by using the advanced search.
For details on Use/Copyright please read the ASH Archives page.
International review of health and economic impact of the regulation of smoking in public places. Health Scotland (External Web Page)
A review of the evidence about the impact of smoking bans and restrictions. 1 March 2005
UK specific secondhand smoke research, opinion polls and surveys
A summary of secondhand smoke research, opinion polls and surveys which took place in the UK
ASH Research Report on passive smoking 2004
A review of the evidence that shows passive smoking is a major health hazard for non-smokers. From 2004
Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals review of secondhand smoke evidence (External PDF)
The Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals (COC) in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (draft paper) undertook a detailed review of the evidence regarding the association between exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and lung cancer during 1997. The review was requested by the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH).
In September 2003 the COC was asked to consider incorporating findings from the Enstrom and Kabat study (BMJ June 2003). The Committee found no grounds to warrant a revision of conclusions arrived at in 1997 - that exposure to secondhand smoke "could account for several hundred lung cancer deaths per annum in the UK."
Responses to Enstrom and Kabat study published in the BMJ
The BMJ received nearly 140 letters criticising the findings by James Enstrom and Geoffrey Kabat study, which was tobacco industry funded.
August 2003: Nearly all the 140 letters to the website of the BMJ, which published the findings, criticised James Enstrom and Geoffrey Kabat, the authors of the tobacco industry funded study, as well as the publication and its editor.
ASH critical appraisal of Enstrom & Kabat study in BMJ
ASH rapid response to a study published in the British Medical Journal that concluded that the health risks from secondhand tobacco smoke were being overestimated, this appraisal points to the failings that the authors fail to address.
FOREST's submission to the Greater London Authority - with notes by ASH
ASH has taken FOREST's submission to the Greater London Authority (GLA) and made notes on the evidence presented. This document attempts to put the record straight on some of the deceptive and outright dishonest arguments used by the tobacco lobby to try to undermine efforts to tackle passive smoking.
WHO Europe: Policies to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke
WHO-Europe publishes guidance on policy to reduce passive smoking exposure - the link gives the summary and recommendations, with a further link to the 76 page report.
Secondhand Smoke in Australia (External Web Page)
Comprehensive assessment of the impacts of secondhand smoke exposure and policies prepared by the Centre for Tobacco Control, VicHealth on behalf of the Australian government. An excellent survey of the evidence and a model for others.
Children and passive smoking: WHO consultation (External PDF)
International Consultation on Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) and Child Health. A summary of the science regarding the impact of secondhand smoke on children. 11-14 Jan 1999.
Factsheet on secondhand smoke and why ventilation is not sufficient
Critical discussion of the weaknesses of the ventilation approach by Repace Associates
Repace Associates factsheet on secondhand smoke
Covers health impacts, exposure, laws, lessons from California and more.
ASH's challenge to the Sunday Telegraph's reporting on passive smoking at the Press Complaints Commission (1998)
On March 8th 1998 the Sunday Telegraph published a front-page headline report accusing the World Health Organization of suppressing a study that the newspaper claimed showed there was no link between passive smoking and lung cancer. The Sunday Telegraph headline was: "Passive smoking doesn't cause cancer - official". ASH immediately contacted the Sunday Telegraph requesting a withdrawal and correction. When it refused, ASH concluded there was no alternative but to make a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission (PCC).ASH Letter to Press Complaints Commission on Sunday Telegraph's reporting on passive smoking
ASH sent a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission in response to an article published in the Sunday Telegraph which attempted to dismiss any link between passive smoking and cancer.
Sunday Telegraph reports on passive smoking
Articles and editorial from the Sunday Telegraph regarding passive smoking. Appendix 1.
Extract from PCC Code of Conduct
Extract from the Press Complaints Comimssion Code of Conduct. Appendix 2.
WHO and IARC Press Release condemning Sunday Telegraph
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)press releases condemning the Sunday Telegraph report as 'false and misleading'. Appendix 3.
ASH report: How the Sunday Telegraph and BAT got it wrong
ASH report: how the Sunday Telegraph and BAT got it badly wrong on passive smoking and why SCOTH and WHO agree. An explanation of the simple statistical errors made. Appendix 4
Sunday Telegraph Press statement attacking ASH
Press Statement by Dominic Lawson, Editor of the Sunday Telegraph in response to a complaint made to the Press Complaints Commission by ASH. Appendix 5.
ASH Letter to Sunday Telegraph Editor responding to their press statement
ASH letter to Dominic Lawson, Editor of the Sunday Telegraph in response to the Sunday Telegraph press statement regarding the ASH complaint to the Press Complaints Commission. Appendix 6.Sunday Times defence against the complaint by ASH to the Press Complaints Commission
Response by the Sunday Telegraph to the ASH complaint to the Press Complaint Commission on their reporting of the World Health Organization study. Appendix 7.
ASH Letter to Press Complaints Commission: critique of the Sunday Telegraph defence
Letter to Tim Toulmin of the Press Complaints Commission responding to arguments raised by the Sunday Telegraph. Appendix 8.
Journal Article: Multicenter Case - Control Study of Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Lung Cancer in Europe
Study by the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer on exposure to secondhand smoke in Europe. Published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 90. No. 19 October 7, 1998. Appendix 9
ASH Press Release 6 October 1998. WHO passive smoking study - tobacco industry and Sunday Telegraph disinformation nailed.
Press Complaints Commission Adjunction
An adjunction by the Press Complaints Commission. Appendix 12.
Sunday Telegraph articles of 25 October 1998
Articles by the Sunday Telegraph: "Complaint over article on passive smoking is rejected" and "when scientific fashion goes up in smoke". Appendix 13.
ASH Letter to the Editor of the Sunday Telegraph regarding passive smoking and WHO study
Letter by ASH to the Sunday Telegraph regarding their reporting of the World Health Organization study on secondhand smoke. Appendix 14.
Journal Article: Tobacco industry efforts subverting International Agency for Research on Cancer's secondhand smoke study
A damning analysis of tobacco industry manipulation of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) passive smoking and lung cancer study published in the medical journal, The Lancet. Appendix 16.