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Letter sent to 20/20 after their announcement of the EPA findings rating environmental tobacco smoke as a carcinogen.

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1/9/93
ABC News
1926 Broadway
New York, NY. 10023

Dear Barbara, Hugh and John,

To congratulate John for being on top of the EPA story on second hand smoke is akin to congratulating an otherwise failing student for passing science with a 40 average because the teacher graded on a curve. It is apparent from your comments that fair science or even good science is unnecessary to prove a point that you wish to endorse. The EPA merely lowered the standards of acceptability of such studies to make previously inconclusive studies conclusive so as to gain this "preponderance" of evidence.

Thank God that Hugh and Official Washington are not bigoted against blacks or women as it would leave open, for example, the interpretation of many studies that show that the academic achievement of young black males is lower than that for whites or that conversely that the Black population has a higher involvement in crime than the White population. By leaving out the many other variables and significant influences on these findings, which would otherwise contradict your chosen position you still would have not uncovered the truth.

Contrary to John's unfounded beliefs, many respiratory problems (which are increasing in society while smoking indoors has already been limited for many years thus decreasing exposure) are caused by the worsening outdoor environment and by Sick Building Syndrome, both of which are charges of a failing EPA. Ignoring these factors in the studies is akin to ignoring the environmental impact on the academic achievement of young blacks. If you can't fix the problem, POST a scapegoat and for now, second hand smoke will serve to deceived a society in jeopardy.

Setting aside for the moment these considerations of health, Hugh's closing remark suggested that smokers be made to feel like pariah requires an apology as it is much like saying that if we hang a few of these young bucks it might force the others to stay in school and stop being criminals. This declaration of social warfare shows the real ignorance and insensitivity to the fact that studies have shown that smoker are genetically different from nonsmokers ( just like Gays) and that many are truly addicted as the blood chemistry of the smoker differs from that of the non smoker.

I can not help but wonder if the "gentle thief" featured on your show had been a smoker if you would have been so quick to de-vilify a man who should have been sentenced to 6300 years in prison for 105 separate armed robberies. Either way, given that the EPA now classes second hand smoke with asbestos exposure my offer made in my response to John's original report still holds. I will be willing to sit in a small room where somebody smokes a pact of cigarettes if you three will sit in one where somebody smokes an equal amount of asbestos.

Sincerely Yours,

Ira T. Lapides, Ph.D.

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