Sir, The advertisement placed in The Irish Times (June 5th) by Philip Morris regarding second hand tobacco smoke is grotesque.
The tobacco promoted by Philip Morris is a poison which kills half of those who smoke it. It is the biggest, single, totally avoidable cause of death in Ireland and world wide. Even Philip Morris knows this.
A small dose of a poison like tobacco smoke is less lethal than a big dose. Therefore, the risk of second hand smoke not disputed by Philip Morris is quite small. Presumably even Philip Morris would agree that a small chance of dying is not a good idea. Comparisons with other factors associated with risk are irrelevant and merely designed to cause confusion. Yours, etc., President, Irish Heart Foundation, Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.