[The European report "Lifting the Smoke-Screen": epidemiological study or manipulation?].
BACKGROUND
This report ends up with a large increase of the number of estimated deaths from passive smoking in Europe. Its conclusions have been decisive to passing laws banning smoking in public places.


RESULTS
However, analysis of this report for France reveals considerable anomalies, such as changing the usual definition of passive smoking. Among the 5863 estimated deaths, 4749 concern everyday smokers. The 1114 non-smokers include all the former smokers as well, whose remaining risk cannot be attributed to environmental smoke. Published data used for calculations come from polls, of which results are very diverse and not very reliable. The level of confidence is not discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
Nevertheless, the number of estimated deaths in the field where restricting laws might be applied and efficient is so low that it makes you wonder which the real aim of this report is, and which conflicts of interests hide behind it.
Molimard
R
R
Faculté de médecine Paris-Sud, 63, avenue Gabriel-Péri, 94576 Le-Kremlin-Bicêtre cedex, France. r.molimard@free.fr
D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D019365:Metaphor; D011633:Public Facilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution