A REPORT by a team from Warwick University, published in the British Medical Journal, reveals that the risk of developing lung cancer from so-called passive smoking has been exaggerated.
According to new research, previous levels of risk (based on 37 studies) are highly suspect because a further 23 studies that failed to link passive smoking with lung cancer were simply ignored.
To put passive smoking in perspective, the average annual risk of non-smokers getting lung cancer is 10 per 100,000 people. According to anti-smoker estimates, this risk is increased by 20-30 per cent if non-smokers are exposed, long-term to environmental tobacco smoke.
The team from Warwick University say the risk if probably half that.
The Health and Safety Commission stated very clearly last year that 'proving beyond reasonable doubt that passive smoking .... was a risk to health is likely to be very difficult, given the state of the scientific evidence.'
SIMON CLARK, Director, FOREST, Palace Street, London, SW1.
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