The editorial's cautious public health position is well taken. The first comment is incorrect, or at best incomplete. Mesothelioma cancer is not caused by smoking in any way -- the only generally accepted cause of mesothelioma in North America is asbestos. It is true that smoking and asbestos combined can increase lung cancer risk, but the increase is synergistic and far greater with the addition of asbestos exposure. Asbestosis is the sometimes fatal scarring condition which again is not caused in any real sense by smoking. It has been widely known since 1930 that asbestos could cause a fatal lung disease and how to avoid most of that harm. Likewise, it was well known early in the 20th Century that lead was a serious danger in many ways, and many countries banned its use in paints, etc. Unfortunately, the clear scientific evidence and the red flags of international bans were ignored in this country. There were toys like solid lead soldiers sold in the United States sold long after this knowledge was widespread. The failure to act tragically resulted in scores of American children suffering irreversible brain damage.

Gary DiMuzio