Rio De Janeiro Research Conference, 1983

At BAT's 1983 conference in Rio, the biological activity (i.e., carcinogenicity) of sidestream smoke was addressed as a major issue. The meeting summary states:

5. The programme of work set up in response to the BCAC directive was supported—but it was stressed that the programme should consider the reduction of specific biological activity, as well as the reduction of visible smoke irritation and unpleasant odour . It should also consider the more general question of ambient smoke [emphasis added]. {1180.07, p. 5}

This statement suggests that BAT's scientists believed sidestream smoke could be biologically active, that is, carcinogenic. In addition, it implies that they were hoping to create a new product with less carcinogenic sidestream smoke, just as they had initially hoped to create a "safe" cigarette for active smokers.

The summary of this conference also refers to several contracts being negotiated to develop special cigarette papers that would reduce sidestream smoke emissions. The use of slow-burning cigarette paper could serve a dual purpose: reducing sidestream emissions and creating a self-extinguishing cigarette, which would be less likely to set accidental fires (see chapter 7) {1180.07, p. 5}. In addition, the participants agreed that defensive research should continue:

The analysis of ambient smoke was regarded as a priority need—to provide firm data to counter misleading statements in the literature and the media. {1180.07, p. 23}

The increasing emphasis that BAT placed on ETS research during the early 1980s is indicated in a document that provides projected resource allocations for 1984 {1180.16}. In 1983, 4.1 "graduate years" and 4.7 "assistant years" were allocated for ETS research (7.6 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively, of BAT's budget); in 1984 these values had increased by roughly 60 percent to 6.5 graduate years and 6.7 assistant years

(12.5 percent and 8.2 percent, respectively). The revenue expenditure for 1984 was estimated at 318,000 pounds for the sidestream research group {1180.16}.