1 THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1964 THE MICHIGAN DAILY PAGE b THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1964 THE JUICHIGAN DAILY PAGE ... .. Rep ort Calls Cigarette Smoking Health Hazan e.- 4 < > By The Associated Press WASHINGTON-A long-await- ed federal report has shaken the $8 billion United States tobacco industry by terming cigarette smoking "a health hazard of suf- ficient importance ... to warrant appropriate remedial action." In a statement released Sat- urday, the Advisory Committee on Smoking and Health, a 10-mem- ber team of scientists and physi- States surgeon general that "the mortality ratio of cigarette smok- ers over nonsmokers (is) particu- larly high for a number of dis- eases," including five different types of cancer. Yet the report noted that "no simple cause-and-effect relation- ship is likely to exist between a complex product like tobacco smoke and a specific disease in the variable human organism . . Often the coexistence of several factors is required for the oc- currence of a disease and one of' the factors may play a determi- nant role." Three Evidence Sources The committee analyzed and evaluated three main kinds of scientific evidence in reaching their conclusions: 1) Experiments were conduct- ed in which animals were exposed to tobacco smoke and tars and to various chemical compounds pres-' ent in them. Seven of these com- pounds, chemically labelled as polycyclic aromatic compounds, were found to be carcinogenic (cancer-producing). Others pro- mote cancer production or lower the threshold to a known cancer- producing agent without being carcinogenic themselves. 2) Clinical and autopsy studies of thousands of smokers and non- smokers revealed that the former are more likely to encounter fre- quent and severe kinds of dam- age to body functions and to organs, cells and tissues. 3) Population studies, compar- ing the smoking histories of per- sons with a certain disease with those of control groups without the disease, showed that numer- ous danger signs occurred more frequently among smokers. Symp-' toms such as chronic coughing, chest illness, sputum production and decreased lung function were far more prevalent a m o n g smokers. Male Mortality Higher Evaluation of these and other sources of evidence indicated that cigarette smoking "is associated with a, 70 per cent increase' in the age-specific death rates of males, and to a lesser extent with in- creased death rates of females. "The total number of deaths causally related to cigarette smoking in the Unitel States smoking in the United States population cannot , be accurately estimated, (but) it is the judg- ment of the committee that cig- arette smoking contributes sub- stantially to mortality from cer- tain diseases and to the over-all death rate," the report noted. The committee added that the mortality rates for pipe smokers were "little if at all higher than for nonsmokers," while "for men smoking less than five cigars daily, death rates are slightly higher (than for nonsmokers). Mortality Ratios "The mortality ratio of cig- arette smokers over nonsmokers was particularly high for a num- ber of diseases: cancer of the lung (10.8); bronchitis and em- physema (a lung disease) (6.1),, cancer, causal relationships were established in the case of cancer of the lip (linked to pipe smok- ing), and cancer of the larynx. Other Points Causal relationships were sug- gested (but not established) for cancer of the esophagus and of the urinary bladder, while no re- lationship was suggested between smoking and stomach cancer. Smoking was found to be more important as a cause of chronic broncho -pulmonary disease than either atmospheric polution or oc- cupational exposure. An association between smok- ing and disease was not sub- stantiated for asthma, influenze or pneumonia. Breathless Smokers It was further discovered that "cigarette smoking is associated with a reduction in ventilatory function. Among males, cigarette smokers have a greater prevalence of breathlessness than non- smokers." Among other ailments which appear to have a relationship -not necessarily cause-and-effect -with smoking are cirrhosis of the- liver and amblyopia (dimness of vision unexplained by any body defect). The study showed that women who smoke during pregnancy' tend to have babies of lower- than-usual birth weight. But "it is not known whether this de- crease in birth weight has any in- fluence on the biological fitness of the newborn." Psychologically Determined { The report concluded that smoking is "to a large extent psy- chologically and socially deter- mined." It noted that in general, the earlier a person begins to smoke, the longer he stays at it. And the more cigarettes he smokes per day, the higher the death rate. The smoking report was in- itiated by the late President John F. Kennedy to aid the govern- ment in deciding what steps, if any, should be taken in control- ling smoking. The committee was formed by Dr. Luther L. Terry, surgeon general of the Public Health Service. Its work began in the summer of 1962 and con- sisted entirely of evaluating and reprocessing earlier studies, with no new research being conducted. Dr. Terry noted that the "re- medial action" called for in the report may include such things as control and a campaign to edu- cate and inform the American public concerning the perils of smoking. HEALTH HAZARD?-A United States Public Health Service committee calls cigarette smoking dangerous, linking it to varied cancers. But, this smoker, and many others, continue, discounting the document. Wynder Urges More Study' Of Cancer-Causing Factors By The Associated Press WASHINGTON - Congress stands divided on the question of whether or not the "remedial ac- tion" against smoking called for in a recently released federal re- port should be initiated. This smoking controversy could turn out to be ansignificant issue of the new session, with one group of legislators calling for immediate action and another (largely made up of legislatorsrfrom tobacco- growing states in the South) call- ing for more research into the matter first. Although no legislator has yet suggested a federal decree abolish- ing smoking-since the govern- ment's inability to enforce a sim- ilar law against drinking, the 18th Amendment, convinced most people that such decisions are per- sonal matters-many are in favor of giving the public moreinforma- tion on which to base its choice. Neuberger's Bills Sen. Maurine B. Neuberger (D- Ore) has already announced her intention to introduce two bills dealing with smoking. One would give the Federal Trade Commis- sion power to regulate cigarette advertising and labelling. The other would provide for additional federal funds for education and research on smoking. Her first bill might not be ne- cessary, however, if the FTC issues a decree declaring it an unfair trade practice for manufacturers not to include a health hazard warning on cigarette packages and advertisements, as it is expected to do. More Research Urged Meanwhile Rep. Harold D. Cooley (D-NC), chairman of the House Agricultural Committee, has announced his plans to call for an accelerated $5 million federal research program "to accomplish maximum assurances of health in the smoking and enjoyment of tobacco." His state would be hardest hit if smokers decide to cut down or quit as a result of the report. North Carolina- produces about two-thirds of this country's flue- cured tobacco and accounts for more than half of the cigarettes manufactured. But Cooley said nothing about the loss in revenue his constituents would incur, concentrating instead on the fact that the government should cooperate with the tobac- co industry "to dispel all the dis- quiet about smoking and associate good health with the enjoyment of tobacco." Campaign Issue? In a recent statement, GOP National Chairman William E. Miller indicated that the Repub- lican Party platform this year would include a plank on smoking and health. A proposal for legis- lation in this field "might be in- dicated," he said. A comparable statement has not as yet come from the,'Democrats. The tobacco industry has served word that it will cooperate toward resolving the tobacco-health re- lationship question. The scientific director of the Tobacco Industry Research Committee, ' Clarence Cook Little, President of the Uni- versity from 1925-29, has said that his organization will "co- operate as rapidly and effectively as possible on the needed research effort." Nevertheless, it appears that to- bacco companies plan no reduction in their television advertising and may even step up advertising in an attempt to offset the effects of the federal report. 'Social Disgrace' In Michigan, State Health Com- missioner Albert E. Heustis has recommended a campaign to make smoking a "social disgrace." Heustis called for a four-point state program against cigarettes, in which cigarettes would be made less available to minors, possibly through banning cigarette ma- chines; strict controls would be imposed on television commercials advertising cigarettes; programs for persons wishing to drop the smoking habit might be admin- istered at the local level; and a law requiring all cigarettes to be labelled "dangerous to health" would be passed. Also, Rep. Joseph Snyder (D- St. Clair Shores) has filed for introduction a bill to require cig- arette companies to stamp a health warning on every pack sold in Michigan. The message would read, "Warning: Excessive use of cigarettes is dangerous to health." The bill would thus call for ac- tion similar to that proposed by the FTC. However, if passed, the bill would control the smoking hazard in this state even if the FTC should issue no similar order to apply nationally. CONTINENTAL (0-OP BOOK.STORE (FORMERLY NSA CO-OP BOOKSTORE) Wishes to announce that they are sorry that they are not stocking or selling course text- books this semester, but are featuring a sale beginning Mon., Jan. 20. At that time all books will be' 10%0OFF list price. Folkway records at $2.25 and $3.00. Vox classicals at about half price. OPEN 9:00-6:00 IN NICKELS ARCADE Upstairs Above Blazo's LUTHER L. TERRY cancer of the larynx (5.4), oral cancet (4.1), cancer of the esoph- agus (3.4), peptic ulcer (2.8) and the group of other circulatory diseases (2.6)." The report added that "for cor- onary heart disease (the leading cause of death in this country), the mortality ratio was 1.7." In other words, the death rate is 70 per cent higher for smokers. In addition, diseases of the heart and blood vessels other than cor- onary heart disease cause 14 per cent of the excess deaths among cigarette smokers. T h e committee investigated several forms of cancer and found at least a suggested association between smoking and illness in five of them. In addition to lung By FRANK CAREY Associated Press Science Reporter WASHINGTON (;')-A noted pioneer in smoking research said recently that ultimate develop- ment of less harmful cigarettes is feasible. He urged that the gov- ernment, the tobacco industry and private researchers expand their studies with full speed to achieve that goal. At the same time, Ernest L. Wynder had a good word for some filtered cigarettes now available, saying in an interview that "some elements of the tobacco industry have already made good progress" in producing a safer cigarette. Dr. Wynder, of the Sloan- Kettering Institute for Cancer Re- search, New York, said he consid- ers some of the filter cigarettes now available are relatively effec- tive in reducing the hazard of lung cancer. He declined to name the brands. Meanwhile, Assistant Surgeon General James M. Hundley quali- fied to some extent remarks he made about filtered cigarettes at a news conference last Saturday. Following issuance of a blue- ribbon panel's report indicting heavy cigarette smoking in a num- ber of health fields, Hundley had said that the panel, in its survey of world scientific literature deal- ing with the question of possible hazards from smoking, had found "no evidence that will establish the fact that filters have had any effect in reducing the dangers." But Tuesday he added it's also true that no evidence was found that they have not had such an effect. That is, he said, there is not enough evidence yet to make a judgment, one way or another, as to the effect of filters. Wynder is one of the scientists who first produced skin cancer in mice by the application of cigar- ette-smoke concentrates, or "tars" to the animals' backs. In research, Wynder said, the problem is two-fold: 1) To reduce tobacco smoke's content of "ciliatoxic agents"- that is, chemicals which he said can destroy the tiny whip-like cilia which line the lungs and help remove unwanted materials. 2) To reduce the quantity of tumor-causing chemicals he said exist in tobacco smoke. Wynder said animal experiments indicate that at least some of the ciliatoxic agents can be selectively reduced by special filters. He add- ed that further research might un- veil ways to reduce others. r 1 fW I w~' Weevers F oresees [ocument spurring "U' leseareh the perfect gift for youre BIG OR LITTLE SISTER SOLID CJI R,,C ILE['IP11N S $2.95 includes free engraving: mono gram * message name Karcade jewelry shop "~" LI16 NICK.ELS ARCADE By STEVEN HALLER University research into the smoking-health association may be accentuated as a result of a re- -cently-released federal report link- ing smoking to several types of disease, Prof. Maurice H. Seevers, chairman of the pharmacology de- partment of the Medical school and a member of . the advisary committee that submitted the re- port, said recently. Prof. Seevers cited one current project in which the direct effects of the tobacco component nico- tine on an animal's central ner- vous system are tested. "We want to see whether nicotine has a stimulating or a depressing effect upon the central nervous system," he explained. He added that in all probability both effects are possible, depend- ing upon the size of the dose ad- ministered: a low dose would act as a stimulant, while a high dose would be a depressant. Purely Subjective "In actual smoking, there are other factors which have a secon- dary effect upon the central ner- vous system. It is difficult to eval- uate the subjective response of one individual or another, since some claim to feel . stimulated through smoking-especially when they inhale-and others claim to feel depressed. "Evidence indicates that most smokers get a tranquilizing effect from nicotine, varying with the amount of smoking and the meth- od of smoking as well as with thousands of other factors," Prof. Seevers continued. In other current smoking re- search here, a colony of rhesus monkeys is aiding researchers study the self-administration of drugs. Every six hours each mon- key is allotted a pill of some type of narcotic (now including nico- tine). "We have found that these monkeys will continue to self- administer other drugs; now we want to know if the same thing is true of nicotine," Prof. Seevers explained. What Happens? These experiments are being conducted to ascertain what hap- pens in the central nervous system when narcotics are taken and what happens when the narcotics are then withdrawn. The monkeys develop withdrawal symptoms in- dicating that they have become habituated to the drug they have been given. "In the future, we contemplate studies involving a small portable machine which would administer nicotine intravenously and at ran- dom intervals when stimulated by a battery or by radio control. Since the person involved would not know when to expect an in- jection this should overcome the psychological effect of using a needle," he said. Prof. Seevers explained that studies have shown the direct in- jection of nicotine to be sufficient to satisfy a smoker. In either case, he might be subject to minor toxic effects such as nausea, brought on by the nicotine. More Money Available "This field of research has be- come of increasing scientific in- terest in recent years, especially since more funds have been made available for experimental pro- jects across the country," Prof. Seevers noted. He explained that the experi- ments being conducted here to test the effects of nicotine upon the central nervous system have been financed by grants from the Tobacco Industry Research Com- mittee, whose director, Clarence Cook Little, was formerly Presi- dent of the University. In addition to these research projects, the respective tobacco companies sponsor research into the chemistry involved in smok- ing, Prof. Seevers went on. At- tempts to isolate the chemical sub- stances present in tobacco and those which are released in smoke during the burning process have uncovered between 500 and 1000 such components thus far. One's Like Another "I find it fundamentally amus- ing that many people have given much serious thought to substi- tutes for tobacco. Papaya leaves and catalpa leaves have been sug- gested as substitutes; but burning any plant material will produce similar crude end products. "How can we be sure the sub- stances produced during the burn- ing of such a substitute be proven Prof. Seevers noted that much research is still needed to find out why some people who smoke never get lung cancer, while some people who get lung cancer never smoke. "It suggests that there might be some inherited factor which smok- ing only triggers," he said. There is a substantial statistical difference in incidence of many diseases between smokers as a class and nonsmokers, he added. This difference cannot be explain- ed fully through direct contact with tobacco smoke. Smokers More Susceptible? "This suggests either that some- thing in smoke is absorbed direct- ly into the body and affects many organ systems, or else smokers are just more susceptible to systemic differences in general, geneticaily or otherwise," Prof. Seevers said. "Perhaps the smoker is physio- logically or psychologically dif- ferent from the nonsmoker, but nobody has found any one factor to distinguish the one class from the other," he added. Prof. Seevers explained that the beginning smoker has no way of telling how susceptible he is to nicotine habituation. A group of five individuals might shelter a wide range of susceptibility which can't be assayed in advance. Many Won't Quit Despite the fact that the federal report pointed out many clear dangers involved in smoking cigar- ettes (beside which the hazards of pipe and cigar smoking are insignificant), many people have said that they will continue to smoke anyway. "I'm not surprised that many people are still complacent about smoking, since the report offered nothing that hasn't already been suggested. The probability of dy- ing from lung cancer is about the same as that of being killed in an automobile accident," so that many people will continue to take the risk despite the danger involv- ed, Prof. Seevers said. What recommendations does Prof. Seevers have for those who wish to take the risk anyway? "If one must smoke a cigarette, he should refrain from inhaling and smoke only intermittently. But on an actual statistical basis, he would be safer smoking a cigar or a pipe if at all," he concluded. MAURICE H. SEEVERS innocuous when we haven't even established such a proof with many tobacco components yet?" Prof. Seveers queried. Among the most publicized com- ponents of tobacco smoke are the tars, a name which Prof. Seevers explained referred to the con- sistency of the substances. "Many substances in pine tar are also in tobacco tars," he pointed out. Exact Carcinogen Unknown The carcinogenic (cancer-pro- ducing) agent in tobacco is known to be among the tars, although the exact chemical constituent involv- ed is as yet unknown. '' :?,: .Yti. JUNIORS, SENIORS and < N > GRADUATE STUDENTS ~ Oni-Campus Interviews JANUARY 22nd Both Permanent and Summer Positions Are Available In- Philadelphia, Penna.,. Dallas, Texas, and Toledo,'Ohio For Men In These Fields: Ai jRt,tr-eK4s k c TILc p" I A t slr#AP vt fr6(41.x If's r / ALL-STUDENT TRIP RUSSIA & EASTERN EUROPE " CHEM. ENGRG. * MECH. ENGRG. . E .._ ENGRG_ " i " ACCOUNTING BUSINESS ADMIN. imn- mAmAT/AnAiM_ 1. v I .