Experts slam low-tar cigarettes 'deception'
Source: Xinhua |
January 16, 2013, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINESE experts have dismissed the concept that "low-tar cigarettes are less harmful" as a marketing gimmick.
At a seminar held by the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and anti-smoking advocacy group ThinkTank in Beijing, experts said research by Xie Jianping, a tobacco research academic, was a deception sugar-coated in science and very harmful to public health. They urged authorities to remove Xie from his seat at the elite Chinese Academy of Engineering.
Xie, who has worked for a tobacco research institute under the China National Tobacco Corporation (China Tobacco) for decades, has been the subject of controversy since he was honored with a seat in the academy in December 2011.
Xie has won several national awards for his research which focuses on low-tar and herbal cigarettes. His institute claims they are less harmful than conventional products.
Experts at the seminar countered his claims by pointing out that his research features errors in terms of its direction, methodology and conclusions.
"His theories were substantially based on junior-level toxicology appraisals, which is not enough to prove that low-tar cigarettes are less harmful," said Zheng Yuxin, of the Chinese Society of Toxicology.
Gan Quan, of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, said Xie's research copies the deceptive yet failed marketing strategy of the American tobacco industry.
"Xie is a representative of the beneficiaries of China's tobacco industry, who try to make money by lying to the public with seemingly scientific evidence."
At a seminar held by the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and anti-smoking advocacy group ThinkTank in Beijing, experts said research by Xie Jianping, a tobacco research academic, was a deception sugar-coated in science and very harmful to public health. They urged authorities to remove Xie from his seat at the elite Chinese Academy of Engineering.
Xie, who has worked for a tobacco research institute under the China National Tobacco Corporation (China Tobacco) for decades, has been the subject of controversy since he was honored with a seat in the academy in December 2011.
Xie has won several national awards for his research which focuses on low-tar and herbal cigarettes. His institute claims they are less harmful than conventional products.
Experts at the seminar countered his claims by pointing out that his research features errors in terms of its direction, methodology and conclusions.
"His theories were substantially based on junior-level toxicology appraisals, which is not enough to prove that low-tar cigarettes are less harmful," said Zheng Yuxin, of the Chinese Society of Toxicology.
Gan Quan, of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, said Xie's research copies the deceptive yet failed marketing strategy of the American tobacco industry.
"Xie is a representative of the beneficiaries of China's tobacco industry, who try to make money by lying to the public with seemingly scientific evidence."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
