Vol. 468 No. 1
96 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to respond to the request by EU Commissioner Flynn to counteract the advertising campaign of Philip Morris to the effect that second-hand tobacco smoke does not damage health. [14612/96]
The series of advertisements taken out by the Philip Morris company in recent weeks do not claim that tobacco smoke does not damage health. However the company's claim, that there is a greater relative risk of contracting cancer by consuming such everyday items as chlorinated water or pepper than by being exposed to environmental tobacco smoke is spurious and, in my view, should be treated with the contempt it deserves.
Over the last thirty years the potentially lethal hazards of tobacco as they affect the individual smoker have been scientifically proven. Smoking is a major cause of lung cancer, chronic bronchitis/emphysema and coronary heart disease. It also increases the risk of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease which can lead to gangrene and limb amputation. In Ireland, about 6,000 deaths a year are attributable to smoking. It is only comparatively recently that the hazards of environmental tobacco smoke have become known, affecting the passive smoker as well as the smoker. These include an increased risk of lung cancer and respiratory disease. Indeed, there is now evidence emerging that mothers who have been exposed to environmental tobacco smoke may have an increased risk of having a low birth-weight baby.
The use of selective epidemiological studies by the Philip Morris company to support its message has already been widely refuted by the various health interests here. These include the chief executive officers of the health boards, the Centre for Health Promotion Studies in University College, Galway, and representatives of many of the non-statutory health organisations.
