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Philip
Morris has “obscured findings of toxicity” in additives to its
tobacco products, says a new study.* University
of California researchers re-analysed data from a Philip Morris study
called "Project MIX" - which concluded in 2002 there was
"no evidence of substantial toxicity" from 333 additives to
tobacco. But
the re-analysis just published found from the same data that the
additives had led to an average 20% increase in 15 carcinogenic
chemicals. They
also discovered that the company for “unexplained reasons” had
downplayed 19 chemicals tested, and failed to fully reveal the
additives’ dangers. The
authors recommend that “regulatory authorities…. could use the
Project MIX data to eliminate the use of these 333 additives
(including menthol) from cigarettes.” Commenting
on the findings, Anne Jones, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and
Health (ASH) Australia, said: “This is the same company that is
currently claiming billions of dollars in lost trademark value in
legal challenges to plain packaging – but they’ve spent decades
using their brands as part of a strategy to deceive smokers. “This
misleading conduct is the latest chapter in a long history of tobacco
companies covering up their products’ addictiveness and harm. “In
2005 The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission found that
tobacco companies’ use of ‘light’ and ‘mild’ descriptors on
their packets constituted ‘misleading and deceptive conduct’. “Tobacco
companies claim their brands are worth billions, but they have used
these brands for decades to trick smokers and attract children to
their addictive, lethal products. “The
Australian Government has a sovereign right to introduce plain
packaging to save lives and health costs, as tobacco kills over 15,000
Australians a year. “We
urge the government to go further - to regulate tobacco contents and
eliminate harmful additives including menthol.” *Study
at www.plosmedicine.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001145 Comment: Media
information:
Stafford Sanders ph. (02)
9334-1823; m. 0412-070-194
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Page last updated 22/12/11 |
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