Special Account 4: Projects And Consultancies

Most of the research projects funded through Special Account 4 described in the documents are related to environmental tobacco smoke (table 8.1). For example, the purpose of four of the Special Account 4 research projects was to measure levels of tobacco smoke in the environment. Other Special Account 4 research projects studied potential confounding factors for adverse health effects associated with smoking. For example, projects examined genetic factors associated with disease or the influence of low-protein diets or psychological stress on pregnancy outcomes. Funding research projects such as these, which divert attention from research on the adverse health effects of tobacco, has been a long-standing tactic of the tobacco industry (1, 11).

Twenty-four of the consultancies funded through Special Account 4 were to support the preparation of statements for hearings on public smoking restrictions (table 8.1). Individuals were paid from $2,500 to $4,000 to prepare these statements. As described later in this chapter, the statements favored the tobacco industry's position that smoking in public places should not be regulated. The Special Account 4 consultancies also supported the preparation of reviews of the scientific literature on topics ranging from the "tobacco habit" to lung retention of particulate matter. As was noted earlier, tobacco industry–sponsored

reviews published in symposia proceedings consistently favor the industry's position that tobacco is not harmful (9). Some individuals were also paid for "continuing consultancies" for unspecified purposes. These continuing consultancies ranged from $500 to $1,500 per month and up.