She says Tomato...


In January 2005 Kimberly Yolton shocked the media circus with the results of her research stating at the time measured levels of serum cotenine in the bodies of children validifying ETS exposures allowing the statement; ETS exposures significantly lowered the cognitive skills of children. Her research stated, “The highest cognitive losses were found at the lowest levels of exposures. We found no safe level where losses were not found” She also noted a similar anomaly existed in previous lead exposure research. What I found telling in her past research was the similarity of studies and the examination of test groups led to some speculation, as she had made similar announcements in the past regarding lead exposures perhaps the study group was exposed to both and thus used to a political advantage as needed. Her assessments stated lower socioeconomic standards led to higher incidence of exposures. African Americans exhibited higher exposure levels. She also quoted NHAINES as a guide in her study. The American CDC describes the NHANES data set is of limited value.

I could find no evidence of blood testing in her research to define as she points out, in the most at risk categories, a higher prevalence of lead exposure.. Her confounding offers little clues either, that she actually controlled for lead exposures in her study group.
The attributes of Lead in most other studies would match her neurotoxicity findings in previous lead research, however Cotenine research would not be consistent with actual physical attributes of cotenine. Is Dr. Yolton merely utilizing a co-existence of exposures to sell her new political statement by replicating her last?

More recently Dr. Yolton is preparing a news conference in California which will present her latest findings Cotenine levels in the blood among an asthmatic study group proves childhood behavioral deficits including ADD are significantly associated with exposure to ETS.

Key opinions expressed;

“Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, even at extremely low levels, is associated with behavior problems in children and pre-teens.”

“While the study examined 5 to 11 year olds with asthma, the findings most likely could be extrapolated to include children without asthma”

"This study provides further incentive for states to set public health standards to protect children from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke," says Dr. Yolton.

Dr. Yolton examined 225 children and pre-teens exposed to at least five cigarettes a day. On average, the children were exposed to approximately 14 cigarettes a day. The children were enrolled in an asthma intervention study. Dr. Yolton included additional measures to assess child behaviors.

To measure exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, Dr. Yolton measured levels of cotinine in the children's blood. Cotinine is a substance produced when nicotine is broken down by the body and can be measured in blood, urine, saliva and hair. It is considered the best available marker of environmental tobacco smoke exposure.
Dr. Yolton found a relationship between cotinine levels and increases in acting out; increases in holding things in, often manifested by anxiety and depression; increases in behavior problems as rated by parents, and behavior and school problems as rated by teachers; and, decreases in the ability to adapt to behavior problems.
"The greater the exposure to tobacco smoke, the greater the problems these children had," says Dr. Yolton.

"Behavior problems in children have increased from 7 to 18 percent over the last 20 years for reasons that are poorly understood. (Note smoking prevalence and exposures according to NHAINES have decreased substantially}

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for child behavior problems."

In the United States, about 25 percent of children are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke in their own homes, yet more than 50 percent of children have detectable levels of cotinine in their blood, according to Dr. Yolton. Previous studies have found link between tobacco smoke and birth weight, number of infections and other health problems, including asthma exacerbations. In a groundbreaking study in 2002, Dr. Yolton found that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, even at extremely low levels, is associated with decreases in certain cognitive skills, including reading, math, and logic and reasoning, in children and adolescents.


An alternate opinion would include;
““Many people have thought the drug was an essentially inactive metabolite, but we have shown that at appropriate doses, it is memory enhancing, neuro-protective and it has antipsychotic activities,” says Dr. Buccafusco, who is also a research pharmacologist at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta.”

Matters for discussion.
In her earlier studies she declared similar anomalies existed in her prior testing of children exposed to lead. In fact in viewing both studies it would be difficult to tell one from the other with respect to her conclusions. Log regression was utilized to show severe depreciation of cognitive skills at the lowest levels of study. Which in fact could actually prove the validity of other research, which shows Cotenine to be neuro protective, Memory enhancing and anti psychotic. In direct opposition to what is being presented as proof children need to be protected from even the lowest levels of exposure.

NHAINES prior to 1999 showed an average cotenine level of 0.2 ng/mL among non-smoking population.
The 1999-2000 NHAINES III found the level had dropped to 0.06 ng/mL higher levels were reported particularly with white males showing higher levels than females and African Americans showing the highest levels. In her research she seems to be taking advantage of those realities to express a self-serving point.

Arguments of alternate sources of Cotenine one in particular At the BMJ by James Repace states no confusion could exist in cotenine levels he estimated to be far to low to allow anyone to fail to differentiate. His calculations were limited to Tomatoes and eggplants but failed to discuss much higher levels in certain types of TEA and Cocoa. Several cups of TEA certainly could move cotenine levels beyond the lowest level ranges Dr. Yolton based her log-linear analysis charts and final analysis in. “No safe level exists” still in respect to drinking water or air which could be described similarly, “no safe level” continues to lack a relevant message.

The WHO and others support a linear model in carcinogenic effect yet strongly oppose the establishment of PELS in tobacco smoke or diesel exhaust. The American EPA is opposed to the idea linear dose response relationships exist in relation to Carcinogens. They contend cell damage in any amount can lead to cancers. Anti smoker advocates reveal their deceit by supporting both arguments when it suits their whims in political statements. I would suggest support of this type of research in fact disposes of any linear dose response modeling as a valid opinion in regards to carcinogens of radiation and organic derivative. Industry NGOs would not be pleased in a failure to express the linear model, which would leave many of their products devoid of safe level litigious protections. The slaying of ETS may in fact comprise a model benefiting us all well beyond the existence or lack of smoking prevalence. Once we establish drinking water and air, as known carcinogens utilizing similar methods, American Industry will be wide open to plunder by every Lawyer on the planet.


FXR