Science is incomplete in report that found high toxin levels, company says
Jump to full article: Winston-Salem (NC) Journal, 2000-10-05
Author: Adrian Zawada / JOURNAL REPORTER
Intro: ''The smoke-chemistry comparisons that are being reported by some public-health organizations represent just a few small pieces of a very large puzzle,'' said Gary Burger, the executive vice president of research and development at RJR. ''We don't believe valid scientific conclusions can be drawn from such a limited set of data.'' . .
Burger said that RJR's scientific method, which includes biological, toxicological and human tests, is more reliable than the Labstat procedure in determining Eclipse's reduced risks.
RJR's research found that Eclipse cigarettes produce 70 percent fewer DNA-damaging chemicals than full-flavor, low-tar and ultralow-tar cigarettes.
Company tests conducted at the University of Nebraska Medical Center have shown that smokers switching to Eclipse had 46 percent less bronchial inflammation and 36 percent less inflammation of the lower lung than when smoking their usual brands.
In addition, mouse skin-painting studies show that Eclipse tar produces fewer skin tumors than tar from low-tar cigarettes.
The science has been reviewed by an independent scientific panel, Burger said, and its report will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal within the next month.
The panel's chairman, Bernard Wagner, has been a paid RJR scientific consultant during the last 10 years.
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