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Green Bay Packer Demonstrates the Dangers of Secondhand Smoke/BARF ALERT
Yahoo News ^ | 17 July 2002 | Wisconsin Tobacco Control Board

Posted on 07/17/2002 10:47:58 AM PDT by SheLion

GREEN BAY, Wis., July 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Bay Packer Ahman Green's participation in a Wisconsin ad campaign designed to raise awareness about the dangers of secondhand smoke was unveiled today. Green will be part of a series of television and radio advertisements that launched early-June and are being broadcast throughout Wisconsin. The new ads use personal stories told by Wisconsin residents who have suffered the effects of secondhand smoke.

Green is not a smoker himself, but he grew up in a household with a smoker and was diagnosed with asthma at age 14. The 25-year-old running back has to pay special attention to avoid smoke-filled environments in order to perform at his best. His personal experience and concerns for his own health and that of others has inspired him to share his story in hopes that it will lead to a smoke-free Wisconsin.

"Because my asthma is aggravated by secondhand smoke, I have to be very careful where I go. My options of which restaurants to eat at or what places I can go to often depend on whether there will be cigarette smoke in the air," says Green. "This can be frustrating and limiting, but staying healthy is important to me and vital to my career."

Green is featured in a television ad that takes place in a cafe. As he enters the smoke-filled cafe, he slips an oxygen mask over his face. The ad conveys the message that secondhand smoke can have serious effects on a nonsmoker. One of the most obvious places where cigarette smoke lingers is in bars and restaurants. Kathie Bundy, pub owner and performer from Manitowoc, WI is featured, along with Ahman Green, in the campaign ads. Bundy opened Stage Door Saloon, one of just a few nonsmoking pubs in Wisconsin. She is featured in a television ad that takes place in a smoke-filled restaurant. Bundy's story is meant to encourage other restaurants and bars to go smoke- free.

"Between concerns about my own health and complaints from nonsmoking customers, I decided that it was the right decision to go smoke-free," Bundy says. "Of course I had concerns about the repercussions this decision would have on my business, but the pub is as busy as ever and customers are happy they have a place to go that isn't filled with smoke."

Restaurant owners who are currently smoke-free or those owners who are considering making their restaurant smoke-free, can advertise their restaurant free of charge on the new Wisconsin Smoke-free Online Dining Guide. Owners simply log onto WWW.HADENOUGHWISCONSIN.COM , enter the Smoke-free Dining Guide section and submit requested information. All restaurant details will be verified and then posted. The new site feature was designed to encourage restaurants to go smoke-free and to support restaurant owners and customers that prefer a smoke-free environment.

The secondhand smoke media campaign is a component of the WTCB's statewide initiative for smoke-free restaurants, work sites, municipal buildings and homes. Each ad contains a tag line that directs viewers to the hadenoughwisconsin.com web site where visitors can share their own stories or seek help in quitting smoking.

The Wisconsin Tobacco Control Board is a Governor-appointed Board charged with developing a strategic plan, allocating funds and evaluating the effectiveness of Wisconsin's tobacco prevention and control efforts. The Board is comprised of state and local leaders representing businesses, education, health care, public health and political leaders from across the state.


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Culture/Society; Government; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: antismokers; butts; cigarettes; individualliberty; michaeldobbs; niconazis; prohibitionists; pufflist; smokingbans; taxes; tobacco
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To: Just another Joe
I'll bet mine has more common sense than either of the others.

Patiently waiting.

181 posted on 07/18/2002 8:12:11 AM PDT by Illbay
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To: Just another Joe
If you can do that for YOURSELF, surely you can do it for SOMEONE ELSE. Unless smokers really ARE by nature intensely self-centered.
182 posted on 07/18/2002 8:12:54 AM PDT by Illbay
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To: RedBloodedAmerican
I offer my symapthy and understanding to you and your family regarding your relative that now has cancer.

I know what that's like. My mother died from lung cancer in 1984 at the age of 47. It was a devastating loss. But she never smoked a cigarette in her life. She was not exposed to second hand smoke. Nor did she ever drink a drop of alchohol. She lived in a farm environment, and largely had a diet of mostly unprocessed healthy organic locally grown foods.

So why in the world did she get cancer? It seems so unfair. The only thing resembling a vice was she was a big Pepsi drinker. So maybe we should ban soda pop. And it is marketed strongly to CHILDREN!! There is no denying that it isn't good for you, yet many kids today drink more soda than water. Some of your comrades in the war against smoking do in fact have their eye on the soft drink industry already.

Actually, the way I believe my mother got cancer was from the medical profession itself. I'll not get too deeply into details here, but she was given a radiation cocktail by a specialist to treat a thyroid problem, and that is what gave her cancer, IMO

Meanwhile, our neighbor smoked a pack and a half of non filtered Pall-Mall's every day his entire life, worked his farm into his 80's, was never hospitalized for illness, and lived to the age of 97. Go figure.

Cancer is usually caused by a combination of things. Second hand smoke may be a contributing factor, but that alone is likely not the cause. If a doctor is telling you it is, well, I have not anything positive to say about him.

The anti smoking crusaders have for years presented deceptive, unproven and exaggeerated information regarding SHS. Why should one trust these people who lie?

The following quote is from the President of the American Council on Science and Health in New York, who certainly does not approve of smoking.

"By exaggerating, the Coalition [for a Smoke-Free New York ] only serves to give ammunition to those who are both generally skeptical of public health "meddling," and to those who maintain that health advocates, motivated by "the end justifies the means" philosophy, frequently play quick and dirty with the facts in an attempt to justify the interventions they want . When they see an ad like the one the Coalition ran this week, these critics of public health may rush to defend existing smoking policies in restaurants and bars.

"Public health policy is best advanced by policies that stick closely to the scientific facts—while recognizing that the best way to lose a legitimate argument is to overstate and exaggerate it."
Warning: Overstating the Case Against Secondhand Smoke is Unnecessary—and Harmful to Public Health Policy

The main issue between smokers and non should be respect for one another. Legislation is not the answer and everyone should realize that the do gooders will not end their "protect you from yourself" campaign with smoking.

They're coming for you next. Conservatives who hate smoking should still oppose legislation.

Smoking is certainly not good for anyone. But, on the other hand, this is not mustard gas we're talking about either, as some anti-smoking groups would like the public to believe. Your right to breathe clean air exists until you step onto private proerty, and then it is superseded by the property owners rights to do what he wishes with his property. You have the right to turn around and take your business elsewhere if you so choose.

There are always going to be rude people...who cut in line at the movies or cut you off in traffic or insensitive smokers versus nonsmokers... this is the exception not the rule. Legislation is gasoline on the fire. It will end up burning non-smokers as well.

183 posted on 07/18/2002 8:45:33 AM PDT by kcpopps
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To: SheLion
There is a vast quantity of empirical data demonstrating that smokers statistically die younger. Not all smokers, mind you, but if you compare a non-smoker to a smoker, the non-smoker is likely to live longer.

Ahman Green is not advocating anything that would limit your right to suck in toxins with every breath, however. He is promoting awareness of the issue. Second hand smoke does can cause health problems. Is it possible to draw a simple cause and effect relationship? No, of course not; epidemiology does not work that way. What we can do is look at incidence of respiratory and other health problems in otherwise similar populations of people exposed and not exposed to second hand smoke. That has been done, and the evidence indicates that people who are exposed to second hand smoke experience those problems far more frequently than those who are not.

Given my choice, I tend to patronize establishments that either do not allow smoking, or which recognize my right to not have to breath your smoke and have adequate ventilation systems. I hate putting on a suit fresh from the dry cleaners, attending a business meeting at a smoky restaurant, and getting home and realizing I need to send my suit, which now reeks of smoke, back to the dry cleaners. I hate the sinus headaches I get when I have to be exposed to smoke.

It is your choice what establishments to patronize, as it is Ahman Green's choice. Why do you criticize him for explaining the basis of that choice? If a bar or restaurant wants to be smoke free, and you want to smoke, go somewhere else.

Lastly, I met Ahman Green last year, and had an opportunity to talk with him for quite a while. He's a hell of a nice guy. He spent a lot of time with my seven year old Packer-crazed son, including autographing practically everything that did not move, and listening to all his stories. He clearly likes kids, and I believe that he is participating in this ad campaign out of a sincere desire to help educate parents who don't realize the damage that second hand smoke can cause. He does not deserve your criticism.
184 posted on 07/18/2002 8:48:39 AM PDT by LouD
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To: Madame Dufarge
The people who never got chosen in a pick-up game.

Uh, actually, where I shoot hoops, its the smokers who don't get chosen. That lack of cardiovascular health is a real impediment when playing full court.

185 posted on 07/18/2002 8:57:09 AM PDT by LouD
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To: SheLion
for smoke-free restaurants, work sites, municipal buildings and homes

...and HOMES !!!!!!HOMES !!!

Is this a state or what!!!!

186 posted on 07/18/2002 8:59:56 AM PDT by Neenah
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To: Illbay
"The elevation of the right to smoke and spew same at others who don't take kindly to it, to that of the most vital personal liberty is yet another reason that I think they need to study a link between tobacco smoking and chronic hallucination."

I didn't expect you to get it. Your steady stream of inane comments on this forum for the past 4 years is quite well known to me.

I don't know why I'm bothering to reply to you, because you still won't get it... but it's not about "elevating" the right to smoke. It's about totalitarian government that will eventually come after the things that you do consider "vital personal liberty". It's a snowball effect and if you support it now, you cannot stop it just before it rolls through your yard.

You cannot destroy the rights of the few without destroying the rights of all. It don't work that way bub.

187 posted on 07/18/2002 9:01:36 AM PDT by kcpopps
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To: LouD
"If a bar or restaurant wants to be smoke free, and you want to smoke, go somewhere else"

Exactly. And if it does allow smoking, YOU go somewhere else.

The argument develops when the state enacts legislation to FORCE business owners to not allow smoking or provide a seperate smoking area.

It should be up to the business owner to decide, absolutely not the state. The consumer then has the choice to patronize the business or not. If it is not profitable to the business owner to allow smoking, he will voluntarily prohibit it. Or vice versa.

From the article:

"...statewide initiative for smoke-free restaurants, work sites, municipal buildings and homes."

They wish to legislate what you do in your home - and smoking is only the beginning.

Perhaps one day soon, it will be considered not healthy (and illegal) to teach your child about that pesky Christ figure.

188 posted on 07/18/2002 9:17:20 AM PDT by kcpopps
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To: Neenah
for smoke-free restaurants, work sites, municipal buildings and homes

...and HOMES !!!!!!HOMES !!!

Good catch - this is exactly where the danger lies. Non smoking conservative should recognize this gigantic red flag.

189 posted on 07/18/2002 9:20:26 AM PDT by kcpopps
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To: RedBloodedAmerican
Show me the study/proof. Show me ANYONES death certificate

I pointed you to a study that shows that exposure to certain chemicals causes a VASTLY HIGHER STASTICAL chance of getting cancer than a normal human that is NOT exposed to that chemical.

Again I ask you, show you the study/proof. Show you the death certificate that proves WHAT.

I've complyed with your request, can you comply with mine?

190 posted on 07/18/2002 9:43:28 AM PDT by Just another Joe
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To: Illbay
Patiently waiting.

OK, you say prohibition. It's been tried and people still drank, still got in accidents involving alchohol.
The Libertarians, according to you, say that no law should be involved, they should be able to drink and drive.

My common sense tells me that if you drink alchohol your reflexes are impaired. We will not get people to stop drinking alchohol. If you drink alchohol you should have a designated driver that does NOT drink alchohol.
Common sense.

191 posted on 07/18/2002 9:47:54 AM PDT by Just another Joe
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To: LouD
What we can do is look at incidence of respiratory and other health problems in otherwise similar populations of people exposed and not exposed to second hand smoke. That has been done, and the evidence indicates that people who are exposed to second hand smoke experience those problems far more frequently than those who are not.

I think you should take a look at the World Health Organizatiuons study on SHS, the largest of it's kind in the world.
The only thing it proved was that there was NOT a correlation between SHS and ANY other health condition that was not already pre-existing.

192 posted on 07/18/2002 9:51:07 AM PDT by Just another Joe
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To: Just another Joe
Show me the study/proof or death certificate that ANY type of matter causes ANY type of cancer. I stated my info and you asked for it. I am asking you for the same. get it?
193 posted on 07/18/2002 9:54:05 AM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: lewislynn
Or would it be the hypocritical smokers who falsely claim to be for the business owners that would "impoverish bar and restaurant owners" by sitting at home in fear of not being able to go without a cigarette long enough to have dinner or a cocktail?

So if you really like chocolate ice cream and in fact won't eat any other kind, and the ice cream parlor down the street sells every kind but chocolate, would you characterize yourself as selfish for not patronizing this particular ice cream parlor?

What makes you think that smokers are trying to emulate Mother Theresa? Making choices in a free capitalist society is what adults do, obviously an alien concept to you.

Do you think that constant repetition of the "selfish" argument will somehow make it a good one?

I don't even know why I'm responding to you, it's like trying to reason with a street person.

194 posted on 07/18/2002 10:15:31 AM PDT by Madame Dufarge
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To: All
WOW! I never knew there was so much deep resentment among non-smoking conservatives for smoking conservatives. hehe

I posted on one of these tobacco threads right after I created my FR account, BOY was that a mistake. hehe After I had a spirited (smile) discussion with many of the "regulars" here, I came to the realization that some simply will not accept that second hand smoke is toxic! I was shocked by this, but then I started to think about the situation for a moment here.

Speaking to my fellow FReepers that believe SHS is toxic (as I do): All these people are saying is, LET BUSINESSES do what they WANT with their business, as long as it's still LEGAL (which smoking is). If the anti-smokers want to eliminate smoking so bad, they should not only show that shs is toxic, but get the EPA to classify it as such. (of course they can't, because SHS, while toxic, is NOT THAT toxic).

I myself had a hard time accepting the right of a small business (resturant or bar) owner allowing this in their place, simply because SHS is toxic, and to me, it's exceedingly FOOLISH of a bar or resturant owner to not at least set up separate sections for smokers and non smokers. But, this is America, and people should have the RIGHT TO BE STUPID, whether it be through INDIVIDUAL choices, or BUSINESS choices.

Just my two cents. And all you regulars, please don't challenge me to post "proof" of SHS's toxicity, because I already have, back in last November, and I honestly don't think anyone read them. But that's fine, because I'm not going to try and argue that small business owners can't do what they want with their business anymore. That would be even more foolish.

195 posted on 07/18/2002 10:31:09 AM PDT by FourtySeven
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To: Madame Dufarge
http://cancer.about.com/library/weekly/aa112400a.htm?iam=savvy&terms=%2Bsmoking+%2Bsecond+%2Bhand+%2Bsmoke+%2Bhealth+%2Brisks

http://www.acsh.org/publications/booklets/ets.html

Please comment on.
196 posted on 07/18/2002 10:32:05 AM PDT by kailbo
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To: brewcrew
Great post! This is exactly how I feel. I am a non-smoker. I'd rather not breath second hand smoke, but if you want to spoke, have at it.
197 posted on 07/18/2002 10:36:58 AM PDT by TankerKC
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To: RedBloodedAmerican
All right. Here are three abstracts. If you don't want to read it and try to understand it that's your problem.

I've provided you with a scientific study, you've provided me with anecdotal evidence and, so you say, a MDs OPINION. If you have nothing else I would consider this argument to be closed.


Exposure to Polychlorinated Dioxins and Furans (PCDD/F) and Mortality in Cohort of Workers From an Herbicide-Producing Plant in Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany

American Journal of Epidemiology 1995; 142:1165-75

Dieter Flesch-Janys, Jurgen Berger, Petra Gurn, Alfred Manz, Sibylle Nagel, Hiltraud Waltsgott, and James H. Dwyer

Abstract

The relation between mortality (all cause: cancer, cardiovascular diseases, ischemic heart diseases, and exposure to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/F) was investigated in a retrospective cohort study. The cohort consisted of 1189 male workers in a chemical plant in Hamburg, Federal
Republic of Germany, who had produced phenoxy herbicides, chlorophenols, and other herbicides and insecticides known to be contaminated with 2,3,7,8 - tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and other, higher chlorinated dioxins and and furans. The authors reported previously on cancer mortality in this cohort for
the follow-up period 1952-1989. The current study covers the years 1092-1992 and investigated the relation of PCDD/F exposure to mortality using a quantitative estimate of PCDD/F exposure for the whole cohort derived from blood and adipose tissue in the estimation of relative risks (RRs) using year of
birth stratified Cox regression. An unexposed cohort of highest relative risk was observed for the highest 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) decile (RR=2.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.80-3.29). Cancer mortality and mortality due to ischemic heart diseases showed a dose-dependent
relation with TCDD and all PCDD/F combined. The highest relative risks for cancer (RR=3.30, 95% CI 2.05-5.31) and ischemic heart diseases (RR=2.48, 95% CI 1.32 to 4.66) were observed in the highest PCDD/F exposure group. The pattern of effects and tests for trend were similar when the
lowest exposure group within the chemical worker cohort served as the reference, but the relative risks were smaller and the confidence intervals were larger. Potential confounding exposures complicate the interpretation of the internal comparison. These findings indicate a strong dose-dependent relation
between mortality due to cancer or ischemic heart diseases and exposure to polychlorinated dioxins and furans.







Estimation of the Cumulated Exposure to Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans and Standardized Mortality Ratio Analysis of Cancer Mortality by Dose in an Occupationally
Exposed Cohort

Dieter Flesch-Janys,1 Karen Steindorf,2 Petra Gurn,3 and Heiko Becher2

1Center for Chemical Workers' Health and Hamburg State Department of Work, Health, and Social Affairs, Hamburg, Germany; 2German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany; 3Institute for Statistics, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany

Abstract

For a cohort of 1189 male German former herbicide and insecticide workers with exposure to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/F), we
report an extended standardized mortality ratio (SMR) analysis based on a new quantitative exposure index. This index characterizes the cumulative lifetime
exposure by integrating the estimated concentration of PCDD/F at every point in time (area under the curve). Production department-specific dose rates were derived from blood levels and working histories of 275 workers by applying a first-order kinetic model. These dose rates were used to estimate exposure levels for all cohort members. Total mortality was elevated in the cohort; 413 deaths yielded an SMR of 1.15 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05, 1.27) compared to the mortality of the population of Germany. Overall cancer mortality (n=124) was significantly increased (SMR=1.41, 95% CI 1.17, 1.68). Various cancer sites showed significantly increased SMRs. The exposure index was used for an SMR analysis of total cancer mortality by dose. For 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) a significant trend (p=0.01) for the SMRs with increasing cumulative PCDD/F exposure was observed. The SMR in the first exposure quartile (0-125.2 ng/kgyears) was 1.24 (95% CI 0.82, 1.79), increasing to 1.73 (95% CI 1.21, 2.40) in the last quartile (2503.0 ng/kgyears). For all congeners combined as toxic equivalencies (TEQ) using international toxic equivalency factors, a significant increase in cancer mortality was in the second quartile (360.9-1614.4 ng/kgyears, SMR 1.64; 95% CI 1.13, 2.29) and the fourth quartile (5217.7 ng/kgyears TEQ, SMR 1.64, 95% CI 1.13, 2.29). The trend test was not significant. The results justify the use of this cohort for a quantitative risk assessment for TCDD and to a lesser extent for TEQ. -- Environ Health Perspect 106(Suppl 2):655-662 (1998). http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1998/Suppl-2/655-662flesch-janys/abstract.html

Key words: polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans, PCDD/F, occupational exposure, exposure quantification, area under the curve, cancer mortality, dose response, risk assessment







This paper is based on a presentation at the International Symposium on Dioxins and Furans: Epidemiologic Assessment of Cancer Risks and Other Human Health Effects held 7-8 November 1996 in Heidelberg, Germany. Manuscript received at EHP 28 May 1997; accepted 12 September 1997.

This study was supported by German Federal Environmental Agency grant 116 06 111.

Address correspondence to Dr. D. Flesch-Janys, Hamburg State Department of Work, Health, and Social Affairs, Health Office, Division Health and Environment, Tesdorpfstr. 8, D-20148 Hamburg, Germany. Telephone: 49 40 44195 630. Fax: 49 40 44195 624. E-mail: flesch@uke.uni-hamburg.de

Abbreviations used: CI, confidence interval; ß-HCH, beta-hexachlorocyclohexane; I-TEQ, international toxic equivalencies; PCDD/F, polychlorinated -p-dioxins/furans; SMR, standardized mortality ratio; 2,4,5-T, 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid; TCDD, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin; TCP, trichlorophenol; TEQ, toxic equivalencies.


The following conclusions were ratified at the May 1998 COC meeting.


Introduction

i) The COC considered the available epidemiological and experimental data on 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo[b,e][1,4]dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD or TCDD) in 1993 when the Committee concluded "...that there was insufficient evidence for a causal link, but it would be prudent at present to regard TCDD as a possible human carcinogen." This was a similar conclusion to that reached by the IARC* in 1987 where TCDD was classified in group 2B (ie possibly carcinogenic to humans). The IARC have undertaken a further review of the literature (and have now concluded that TCDD should be considered as a definite human carcinogen (ie group 1 carcinogen).(1) The conclusion reached by the IARC Working Group may have potential public health implications with respect to the hazard and risk
assessment of TCDD and also with respect to other polychlorinated dibenzo dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzo furans (PCDFs) which are widely dispersed environmental contaminants.

ii) It was therefore important for the Committee to reconsider its previous conclusion. The Committee
reviewed the IARC monograph and specifically the critical epidemiology studies on TCDD cited in the monograph, ie those investigations which considered individuals whose exposure to TCDD occurred under industrial situations and was documented to be substantially higher than background exposures from environmental sources of TCDD.(2-15) The Committee also considered the literature on animal studies
and investigations of the carcinogenic mechanism of TCDD in animals as cited in the monograph and a number of recent papers on the toxicological mechansisms of TCDD.(16-26)


Conclusions



iii) The Committee reached the following conclusions which were finalised at the meeting of May 1998.

Epidemiological data

iv) There is limited epidemiological evidence in humans for carcinogenicity of 2,3,7,8-TCDD. The Committee reviewed the available epidemiological studies published since the previous COC review completed in 1993. It was noted that the new studies were predominantly comprised of updates of cohort studies previously reviewed in 1993. The Committee was also aware of a publication reporting the most recent results from the IARC multi-country study. (12) Members agreed that all of the limitations previously noted in 1993 applied to the current studies namely; 1) mixed chemical exposures which included some known carcinogens, 2) exposure to PCDDs was due to their presence as low level contaminants of other chemicals such as chlorophenoxy acid herbicides to which the cohorts had much greater exposure and 3) the lack of data to infer an association with any specific cancer.

v) The Committee agreed that the approach used by the IARC Working group to evaluate the epidemiological data on TCDD was satisfactory and the monograph clearly identified the critical studies which all involved the most highly exposed cohorts. The IARC working group calculated a relative risk
estimate for total cancer of 1.4 (95% CI 1.2-1.6)). The Committee agreed that since its previous evaluation, there was considerably more epidemiological data now available and this was consistent with an increase in overall cancer mortality but concluded that, since no consistent significant association between TCDD and any specific cancer was evident, the epidemiological data should be considered as indicating limited* evidence of cancer in humans, ie the same conclusion as that reached by the IARC Working Group.

Animal studies and data on mechanism(s)

vi) There is sufficient* evidence for carcinogenicity of 2,3,7,8-TCDD in animals. The mechanism of carcinogenicity in animals has not been established for individual tumour sites but the available evidence suggests that this might involve tumour promotion. TCDD induced gene expression in laboratory animals is mediated through binding to the Ah receptor protein and this includes the induction of genes involved
with control of cell replication but there is no convincing evidence to associate these particular effects with the induction of specific tumours. The COM is to review mutagenicity data on TCDD.

vii) The IARC working group considered three supporting pieces of evidence when considering their final recommendation that TCDD should be regarded as a definite human carcinogen (ie category 1). The Committee agreed the following response regarding the supporting statements;

Statement 1. TCDD is a multi-site carcinogen in experimental animals that has been shown by several lines of evidence to act through a mechanism involving the Ah receptor.

With regard to statement 1, the Committee agreed that TCDD is a multi-species carcinogen in laboratory animals. The Committee concluded that the available evidence was not sufficient to draw any definite conclusions with regard to the mechanism of carcinogenicity in laboratory animals and it was not possible to comment on the role of the Ah receptor in this regard.

Statement 2. This receptor is highly conserved in an evolutionary sense and functions in the same way in humans as in experimental animals.

With regard to statement 2, the Committee agreed that there was considerable sequence homology between Ah receptor proteins isolated from laboratory animals and humans. However, there was no adequate information with which to compare Ah induced gene expression in laboratory animals and
humans or to identify all of the genes induced in humans. It was therefore not possible to draw any definite conclusions on the potential significance for carcinogenesis of Ah receptor-mediated gene induction in humans.

Statement 3. Tissue concentrations are similar both in heavily exposed human populations in which an overall increased cancer risk was observed and in rats exposed to carcinogenic dosage regimens in bioassays.

With regard to statement 3, the Committee considered that the comparison of TCDD tissue concentrations using data from rat cancer bioassays and human populations with heavy occupational exposures to PCDD mixtures was inappropriate. Members agreed that such comparisons took insufficient account of the relative differences in toxicokinetics of TCDD between laboratory animals and humans or the different exposure regimes under which the data were obtained. Members agreed that the comparison of life-time exposure in rodents with high level occupational exposure which occurred for
varying and proportionately shorter periods in the IARC analysis was not appropriate.


Overall Conclusion

viii) Members considered that TCDD was a potent carcinogen in laboratory animals. However, the information from the most heavily occupationally exposed cohorts suggested there was at most, only a weak carcinogenic effect in these individuals. The Committee concluded that there were insufficient epidemiological and toxicological data on TCDD to conclude a causal link with cancer in humans, but it
would be prudent to consider TCDD as a 'probable weak human carcinogen'.

(* The World Health Organisation International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) definitions of terms "limited" evidence of carcinogenicity to humans and "sufficient" evidence of carcinogenicity in animals have been used by the COC in these conclusions. These can be consulted in the preamble to individual monographs.)


References

1. IARC (1997). Monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans. Volume 69, Polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans, Lyon, pp 33-343.

2. Collins JJ, Strauss ME, Levinskas GJ and Conner PR. The mortality experience of workers exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in a trichlorophenol process accident. Epidemiology, (1993), 4,(1), 7-13.

3. Fingerhut MA et al . Cancer mortality in workers exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. The New England Journal of Medicine, (1991), 324, (4), 212-218.

4. Ott GA and Zober A. Cause specific mortality and cancer incidence among employees exposed to 2,3,7,8-TCDD after a 1953 reactor incident. Occupational and Environmental Medicine (1996), 53, 606-612.

5. Manz A, Berger J, Dwyer JH, Flesch-janys D, Nagel S and Waltsgott. Cancer mortality among workers in chemical plant contaminated with dioxin. The Lancet (1991), 338, (8773), 959-964.

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198 posted on 07/18/2002 10:42:01 AM PDT by Just another Joe
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To: FourtySeven
I'm in total agreement.
199 posted on 07/18/2002 10:43:26 AM PDT by kailbo
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To: Just another Joe
I think I recall some other abstracts out there disputing these findings. Could you post them, please? You want to be sure this material is not bogus, since it appears you agree with it, right?

And only one? Aren't there more pertaining to the same?

And if someone is 78 and contracts this, does it really matter?

Thanks.

200 posted on 07/18/2002 10:46:58 AM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
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