276 



4 



- 32 



Individuals wtw do not follow the medical profession's good advice not to 

 sanke." ** As noted by G.H. Miller below, the information was based on 

 speculation rather than fact: 



"The JAMA article used 'critical values' to estimate the safety 



levels of six compounds found In cigarette smoke: carbon monoxide, 

 tar, nicotine, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanide, and acrolein. 

 However, the statements concerning the possible safety of the less 

 ha2ardous cigarettes were dependent upon assumptions of theoretical 

 safety limits lf the estimates were correct and if the proposed 

 reduction in these components could actually be made. These 

 assumptions, as well as the handling of the data, were made without 

 experimental substantiation. ... Que to (extensive) pre-publication 

 publicity, the public was presen'.gd with Information as suff»d to be 

 bas ed on fact, whereas it was based on speculation, (emphasis added) 



Subsequent "reports In the mass media on the safety levels of certain 1om 

 tar-1oM nicotine cigarettes Included tables listing the number of 

 cigarettes of specific brands that could be smoked 'safely.' ... These 

 tables ... were not contained In the original (JAMA) article... (and) 

 (their)... source... remains unclear." ®' 



On August 10, 1978, the Washington Post published an article entitled 

 "Some Cigarettes Now 'Tolerable,' Doctor Says." Liggett took advantage 

 of the printed account and distributed the article in 1978 for use as a 

 store display advertisement. The article stated that, according to Gorl, 

 "some dgartttes now have so little tar, nicotine and other harmful 

 elements that they can be called 'less hazardous' and can even be smoked 

 In 'tolerable' numbers without 'appreciable' ill effects on the average 

 smoker." ^* The article included a chart showing the number of 

 cigarettes "the average smoker could consume dally without exceeding a 



