RESPIRATORY HEALTH-EFFECTS OF PASSIVE SMOKING - EPAS WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE ANALYSIS

After an extensive review and assessment of the scientific evidence on the respiratory health effects of passive smoking, the U.S. Environme ntal Protection Agency has determined that the widespread exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in the United States presents a serious an d substantial public health impact. The Environmental Protection Agenc y concluded that environmental tobacco smoke causes lung cancer in adu lt nonsmokers and increases the risk for a variety of noncancer respir atory disorders, especially in children. This article reviews evidence presented in the Environmental Protection Agency's 1992 report on the respiratory health effects of passive smoking and responds to critica l allegations levied by Gio Gori in his article ''Science, policy, and ethics: the case of environmental tobacco smoke'', appearing in the s ame issue of this journal. Several recent studies appearing since the cutoff date for inclusion in the EPA report are also discussed.