| Public Health Policies Regarding Hazardous Waste Sites and Cigarette Smoking: An Argument by Analogy Marvin S. Legator and Sabrina F. Strawn Division of Environmental Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch
at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77550 USA Abstract
In 1962, more than a half century after the rise in lung cancer was first detected, the United States Surgeon General convened an Advisory Committee on Smoking and Health (1) . After a painstakingly critical review of the literature, the committee noted the causal relationships between smoking and several diseases such as lung cancer (in men) . Also noted in the committee's report were conditions for which an association could as of then only be inferred: lung cancer in women, oral cancer, cancer of the esophagus, bladder cancer, emphysema, coronary artery disease, peptic ulcers, and low birthweight infants. A year after publication of the committee's report, Congress mandated that a health warning be placed on cigarette packages (2) . Smoking rates began to fall. Over the ensuing 20 years, approximately 750,000 smoking-related deaths were avoided or postponed (3) . Americans were responding to the warning.
Address correspondence to S. Strawn, 2.102 Ewing Hall, J-10, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550 USA.
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