National Football League

Deflategate science firm said secondhand smoke won't cause cancer

Published May. 19, 2015 2:43 p.m. ET

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The scientific consulting firm that was hired by Ted Wells to assist in the Deflategate investigation once published a report arguing that secondhand smoke does not cause cancer.

A Los Angeles Times article from 2010 criticized Exponent Inc. as having a reputation for “helping big corporations weather messy disputes.” That has included tobacco companies, as Exponent has put out thousands of pages of research that argues — among other things — that secondhand cigarette smoke does not cause lung cancer.

As we know, secondhand smoke can absolutely cause cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, there are at least 69 toxic chemicals in secondhand tobacco smoke that are known to cause cancer. The CDC notes that secondhand smoke causes more than 7,300 deaths among nonsmokers in the United States each year.

Exponent has a reputation for serving major corporations and providing conclusions that seem to work backwards from a predetermined result. The firm was hired by Toyota in 2010 in an attempt to prove that sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles was not caused by issues with its electronic throttle systems. Exponent has also been called upon by companies who have come under fire over issues with toxic waste in the jungle and asbestos.

What’s the point? The biggest criticism of the Wells report has been that the NFL slapped the guilty label on the New England Patriots from the start and hired people to support that accusation. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has also reminded us that Columbia University was mentioned as a potential source for scientific analysis at the start of the investigation, but Wells decided on Exponent. If Wells explained the process of selecting a firm, it would go a long way toward providing people with the transparency they have been seeking.

There are plenty of holes present in the Wells report, some of which you can read here. The fact that Wells hired a firm that tried to convince people that secondhand smoke does not cause cancer is not a good look.

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