Tobacco control research invites more questions than answers
Thursday, December 19, 2013 at 16:45 The BBC reports:
Smoking parents 'pollute children'
Forest's response reads:
"Tellingly, this study provides no evidence of harm caused by exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke. In addition the results are almost certainly unrepresentative of most smokers' homes.
"Today very few adults light up around young children in small enclosed spaces. It's inconsiderate at best which is why most parents who smoke have changed their behaviour voluntarily.
"We would support a public information campaign on the issue as long as it is based on fact not scaremongering, but any attempt to ban smoking in cars or the home will be strongly opposed.
"Home and cars are private spaces and legislation would be very difficult to enforce without evidence from neighbours, friends and other family members. That would be a step too far in our opinion."
Sadly the BBC report omitted the opening paragraph which includes my point about the study providing no evidence of actual harm.
I would also like to know whether the study was based on a random sample of "smoking households". If not, how were they selected?
As ever, a tobacco control study provides more questions than answers.
PS. Talking of passive smoking, you should read James Delingpole's latest post on the Telegraph Blogs:
Reader Comments (1)
Did the BBC give any reason for excluding the first paragraph Simon? The first sentence is factually accurate but perhaps someone thought that the second sentence was speculative criticism. It is of course hard not to speculate if no methodology is provided but the BBC does tend to ignore research fundamentals when publishing health stories. Only yesterday we were subjected to a national news item based on a claim that eating one extra apple per day would prevent 8500 deaths a year. Any organization that believes it possible to make such claims with any degree of accuracy whatsoever is in need of help. I find that worrying.