We have published a new article on secondhand smoke levels occurring in automobiles for a variety of speeds and ventilation conditions.

Please see the Stanford News Article and visit the Download Page.

How severe are the pollutant levels in a car with a smoker?

Some representatives of so-called "smokers' rights" organizations have been mischaracterizing the findings of our recently published study of outdoor tobacco smoke performed at Stanford University. Therefore, I have written this memorandum to clarify the findings of our research with respect to exposures occurring on outdoor dining patios.

--Neil Klepeis

In this booklet, we answer some common questions about the recent STANFORD OUTDOOR TOBACCO SMOKE STUDY.

See the Press Release and the Download Page.

Also read a memo clarifying the study findings for outdoor dining areas.

From a scientific standpoint, the story of exposure to secondhand smoke has been muddled by pro-smoking advocates. These critics make attempts at poking holes in the previous epidemiological research studies linking smoke exposure to long-term adverse health effects, such as cancer and heart disease.

What the pro-smoking critics seem to forget is that the health effects of most of the pollutants that make up secondhand smoke – such as fine particles, carbon monoxide, benzene, PAHs – already are well-known in environmental science.