St. Adele Research Conference, 1970

The group research conference for 1970 was held in November at St. Adele in Quebec {1170.01}. The group consensus about the potential for achieving a "safe" cigarette was significantly tempered in 1970 compared to conclusions the group had reached in 1967. According to the 1970 minutes, the 1967 meeting had concluded,

The smoking and health problem is amenable to a research solution. This is a significant change in thinking and is a direct result of research [emphasis added]. {1170.01, p. 1}

By 1970 the conference participants (nearly the same group of individuals) reached a different conclusion:

The smoking and health problem is at least partially amenable to a research solution [emphasis added]. {1170.01, p. 1}

Underlying both statements is the assumption that constituents of tobacco products have toxic effects. The statements represent an important shift between 1967 and 1970 in the degree to which BAT scientists believed there was a technical fix for the problem of smoking-induced cancer and other diseases.