Daily Doc: PM, May 3, 1994: Dioxin in ETS
Daily Doc: Dioxin in ETS
Title: Project Proposal: Dioxin in ETS
PM, May 3, 1994
Bates #: 2028373111/3112
March 26, 1000
These Philip Morris Tobacco Company documents reveal that dioxins are present in secondhand tobacco smoke. Dioxins are a product of combustion. The following description of dioxin is taken from the Dioxin Home Page, a page which also has links tostudies and other information about dioxins (http://www.enviroweb.org/issues/dioxin/ ):
"Dioxin is one of the most toxic chemicals known. A report released for public comment in September 1994 by the US Environmental Protection Agency clearly describes dioxin as a serious public health threat. The public health impact of dioxin may rival the impact that DDT had on public health in the 1960's. According to the EPA report, not only does there appear to be no "safe" level of exposure to dioxin, but levels of dioxin and dioxin-like chemicals have been found in the general US population that are "at or near levels associated with adverse health effects." The EPA report confirmed that dioxin is a cancer hazard to people; that exposure to dioxin can also cause severe reproductive and developmental problems (at levels 100 times lower than those associated with its cancer causing effects); and that dioxin can cause immune system damage and interfere with regulatory hormones."
To my knowledge, no warning of the presence of dioxins in cigarette smoke (either primary or secondhand smoke) has ever been given to consumers of the product nor to bystanders exposed to secondhand smoke, nor otherwise been made public information.
CITATION
Title: Project Proposal: Dioxin in ETS
Type of Document: Research Proposal, scientific
Date: 19940503
Author: Ergo
Site: Philip Morris document site: http://www.pmdocs.com/
Bates No. 2028373111/3112
URL: http://www.pmdocs.com/getallimg.asp?DOCID=2028373111/3112
(NOTE: Another PM document about dioxin in ETS can be found at http://www.pmdocs.com/getallimg.asp?DOCID=2028373109/3110 "Dioxins in ETS")
QUOTES
Dioxins in ETS
The proposed project is intended to determine the parameters which influence the concentrations of polychlorinated dioxins and furans (PCDD/PCDF). The objective is to further decrease the already very low concentrations of dioxins in ETS.
In order to simplify the process, the amount of dioxins in sidestream smoke is used as a measure for the amount originating from the cigarette. Eventually, it makes sense to investigate only those parameters which have a clear impact on dioxin release; in the early phase of the project however, all parameters must be considered which could possibly have an effect on the formation of dioxins and furans. Based on current knowledge, the following must be included:
- dioxin level in components: tobacco, paper filters - dioxin level in sidestream smoke
- different tobacco varieties: Burley, Oriental, Virginia - stems
- chlorine/chloride levels in: tobacco, papers...
...In the basic study on the release of PCDD/PCDF into sidestream smoke, double determinations each should be done with samples of different parameter levels...
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Anne Landman, Regional Program Coordinator
American Lung Association of Colorado, West Region Office
Grand Junction, CO
(970) 245-2120
afoxland@gj.net
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