Judge rightly voided EPA study on smoking

It was heartening to see a U.S. judge invalidate the Environmental Protection Administration's finding that secondhand smoke causes lung cancer. The judge based his decision on the fact that the EPA could show no relationship between lung cancer and secondary smoke, as cited in the report.

Earlier this year, the World Health Organization (WHO), after a seven-year study in Europe, found no proven connection between this type of cancer and passive smoke. I didn't read about this conclusion to the WHO report in a newspaper or hear about it on the radio or TV; a colleague got this information from the "net."

As a scientist, I know there is a subconscious and inherent tendency to make the results of any study come out the way you want it to if you have a stake in the outcome.

However, I also realize it is very difficult to do a study without having preconceived notions on how it will turn out.

For hundreds of years, institutions have used the "scientific method" to prove or disprove a hypothesis. The EPA and all other entities that perform experiments or undertake studies must follow accepted guidelines in reaching their conclusions. Otherwise, new knowledge used to benefit mankind would come to a halt.

RICHARD F. KELLY

Buffalo

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Judge rightly voided EPA study on smoking

Letter to the editor Copyright 1998 The Buffalo News August 1, 1998

Material presented on this home page constitutes opinion of Steven J. Milloy.