Pubdate: Sunday, 08 November, 1998
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Contact:  http://www.seattletimes.com/
Copyright: 1998 The Seattle Times Company
Author:  Dr. Kerry Lane, Delray Beach, Fla.

COMPANIES WILL REAP WINDFALL WHILE PUBLIC HEALTH SUFFERS

The tobacco companies are arguing in the Washington state Medicaid
trial that the individuals and the public at large have been
adequately warned of the risks associated with use of tobacco products.

This is false, as evidenced by RJ Reynolds patent entitled "Method of
Inhibiting Mycotoxin Production," granted Dec. 16, 1997, which
describes the toxic effects of the fungal carcinogen aflatoxin and
prescribes a method of preventing same.

Aflatoxin contaminates corn and grains in storage, is a profound
carcinogen and mutagen and can cause birth defects. Aflatoxin has been
shown to be produced on tobacco and can, under some smoking
circumstances, survive combustion. Aflatoxin has been shown to be a
lung carcinogen. On chewing tobacco, aflatoxin may be an exceptional
health hazard.

The federal government has enacted legislation that prevents the
interstate transport of aflatoxin-contaminated commodities if they
exceed 20 parts per billion.

The attorney general should insist on implementation of this law if
the tobacco companies want to sell their product in this state.
Failure to do so may constitute public-health and possibly legal
malpractice.

The attorney general for the state of Washington, in concert with
other AGs, is attempting to settle the Medicaid-tobacco liability
suits. Public-health groups have all but been excluded from input, or
even updates on the progress of these negotiations.

In the absence of a trial with full disclosure of all the newly
discovered documents, including the role of ammonia in reducing
aflatoxin contamination, a settlement only serves to fill the coffers
of state governments and enhance the political ambitions of the
attorneys general.

The tobacco conglomerates will reap a windfall in stock-share
appreciation while the health of the public will suffer.

I suggest all concerned citizens of Washington state contact the
attorney general and express your concerns on this issue.

Dr. Kerry Lane, Delray Beach, Fla.

- ---
Checked-by: Rich O'Grady