Philip Morris Cigarette Recall Illogical:

"Like Removing Cold Germs From Ebola Virus Mixture"

Action Reminiscent of Recall of Perrier Water and Chilean Grapes:

Risk From Smoking or From Smoke Far Exceeds That From Product

Philip Morris' recall of 8 billion cigarettes because they allegedly contain an irritant chemical is as illogical as trying to protect public health by removing cold germs from a mixture of the Ebola Virus, says a national antismoking organization. Cigarettes already include dozens of chemicals which trigger eye, nose, and throat irritation, and many more which cause much more serious health problems such as cancer and genetic mutations, says John Banzhaf, Executive Director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). These chemicals include benzene, a known human carcinogen; ammonia, a powerful cleaner which causes eyes to water; hydrogen cyanide, which is used to execute condemned prisoners; hydrazine, another known human carcinogen; formaldehyde, a strong chemical used to preserve bodies; Polonium-210, a radioactive compound which lodges in the lungs, and many other very dangerous substances.

Recalling Philip Morris cigarettes, which already contain or give off hundreds of deadly chemicals, simply because one more irritant compound is added, makes no sense from a health point of view, although it might lull smokers into forgetting just how dangerous their ordinary cigarettes are. In many ways, says Banzhaf, the move is reminiscent of the government's decision to ban the import of fruits from Chile in 1989 after small traces of cyanide ¾ just enough to give a small child a tummy ache were found in only two grapes. "The irony was that the smoke from a single cigarette contains about 100 times more cyanide than did the two grapes, and even a nonsmoker in a smoke-filled room would inhale far more cyanide than he would get from eating a normal portion of grapes."

Similarly, when the manufacturer voluntarily recalled bottles of Perrier water, it was later found that one cigarette typically has almost 2,000 times as much benzene as a bottle of Perrier water. Moreover, even a nonsmoker sitting in a typical bar drinking a bottle of Perrier would inhale far more benzene than he would drink.

Recalling cigarettes because they contain a minor smelly irritant is like recalling the Titanic because one wooden deck had a few splinters, says Banzhaf.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Saturday, May 27, 1995

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL: John Banzhaf (202) 659-4310

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