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November 2004

Michael Guerin and Roger Jenkins have well-documented ties to the tobacco industry over the past several decades through their work at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Studies coming out of national laboratories, and the scientists conducting the research there, have a high level of perceived credibility simply because they come from government entities. However, in addition to research and development in its official capacity as a national laboratory, ORNL also accepts private contracts whose research and results do not have official government standing.

• Michael Guerin, who runs the analytical chemistry division at ORNL, has received more than $1 million from the Council for Tobacco Research (CTR) and the Center for Indoor Air Research (CIAR).¹
  
• Roger Jenkins, a chemist with ORNL, performed research on tobacco smoke and secondhand smoke exposure for the tobacco industry, specifically on research commissioned by R.J. Reynolds (RJR) and the CIAR.²
  
• A July 12, 1972 letter from Murray Senkus, director of Research with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, thanks Dr. M.R. Guerin of the ORNL for a letter in which he "reviewed the results of your analyses of samples for the National Cancer Institute."³

• A December 6, 1988 letter from Max Eisenberg, executive director of the CIAR, requests that R.A. Jenkins and M.R. Guerin of the ORNL submit a proposal to his attention.⁴

• The authors of a 1996 study on CIAR-funded projects stated that "…one recipient of an applied project, Roger A. Jenkins (1995), of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, testified at length regarding the funding process for his project. He [Jenkins] stated that CIAR had approached him with a proposal for his project, and that he and his colleagues had developed the study methodology with input from CIAR, R.J. Reynolds, and Bellomy Research (a marketing research firm)." The authors cite CIAR tax records that show that the ORNL received $797,892 in 1993 for Jenkins to conduct a study titled "Determination of Human Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke."⁵
  
• According to a 1997 article in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Roger Jenkins and Michael Guerin of the ORNL performed measurements of secondhand smoke exposure. Sponsors of the research included CTR, CIAR, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and others.⁶
  
• In 1997, Dade County (FL) Circuit Court Judge Robert P. Kaye barred tobacco industry witness Roger Jenkins from testifying in the Florida flight attendants’ lawsuit regarding his secondhand smoke studies, on the grounds that R.J. Reynolds’ (RJR) assistance with field work and lab analysis made the research suspect. Judge Kaye stated, “ It reminds you of having the fox in the henhouse in a situation like this.”⁷
  
• Tobacco attorneys planned to call expert testimony from a researcher at the ORNL to dispute the link between secondhand smoke and cancer, during a 1998 lawsuit that alleged that Mildred Wiley, a nonsmoker, contracted lung cancer as a result of secondhand smoke exposure in the workplace.⁸
  
• Michael R. Guerin is listed as a CIAR Scientific Advisory Board Member, and researchers from the ORNL are listed as peer reviewers for the CIAR, in its 1998 Research Agenda request for applications.⁹

• Internal documents show that ORNL was also paid by Philip Morris (PM):
  
• June 10, 1998 invoice from ORNL to Philip Morris for $56,250, plus additional monthly payments of $18,750.¹⁰
• January 4, 1999 invoice from ORNL to Philip Morris for $97,440.¹¹
• October 1, 1999 invoice from ORNL to Philip Morris, plus arrangements for future payments.¹²

• ORNL was listed as a partner in Brown & Williamson Tobacco's VentilationPlus TM program.¹³

• In 2003, ORNL announced plans to conduct a study of indoor air pollution levels, including secondhand smoke, financed with $750,000 from Philip Morris USA. The researchers will recruit 65 to 70 nonsmokers, who will be paid to wear an air-sampling machine and be monitored over four days. Dr. Roger Jenkins, head of the project, stated that the Philip Morris funding would not influence the study or its results.¹⁴

• In June 2004, ORNL announced a new study that will look at the effects three indoor air pollutants, including secondhand smoke, have on heart rate variability. The two year study will be conducted by Dr. Roger Jenkins and funded by Philip Morris.¹⁵

1. Cohen, J., "Tobacco money lights up a debate: grants from tobacco companies provide a large and growing source of support for basic biomedical research, but critics charge that the funds help the industry sow doubts about the hazards of smoking," Science 272: 488-494, April 26, 1996.
2. Associated Press, "Tobacco attorneys call for mistrial," JournalNow Business, September 24, 1997.
3. Senkus, M., "[Letter to Dr. M.R. Guerin re: indoor air quality research]," Winston-Salem: R.J. Reynolds (RJR), July 12, 1972. Bates No. 500189289 .
4. Eisenberg, M., "[Letter to Mr. Larry L. Radcliffe re: indoor air filtration systems]," Linthicum, MD: Center for Indoor Air Research (CIAR), December 6, 1988. Bates No. 507965433.
5. Barnes, D.E., Bero, L.A., "Industry-funded research and conflict of interest: an analysis of research sponsored by the tobacco industry through the Center for Indoor Air Research," Journal of Health Politics 21(3): 515-542, Fall 1996.
6. Munger, F. "The air we breathe: researcher sidesteps politics, measures ‘environmental tobacco smoke’," Knoxville News-Sentinel, August 11, 1997.
7. Levin, M., "Tobacco firms battle flight attendant suit," Los Angeles Times: A22, September 28, 1997.
8. O’Neill, J., "Researchers’ outrage used in tobacco suit," Indianapolis Star, March 4, 1998.
9. Center for Indoor Air Research, "1998 Research Agenda, Request for Applications," January 1998.
10. Damiano, F.V. “Work For Others Agreement No. Erd-98-1660 (Task Order 001) and Advance Payment Invoice.” Oak Ridge National Lab . June 10, 1998. http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/obt93c00
11. Damiano, F.V. “Work For Others (Wfo) Contract No. Erd-99-1735 And Advance Payment Invoice.” Oak Ridge National Lab. January 4, 1999. http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/ yzs93c00
12. Damiano, F.V. “Work For Others Agreement No. Erd-98-1660 (Task Order 002).” Oak Ridge National Lab . October 1, 1999. http://www.pmdocs.com/getallimg.asp?if=avpidx&DOCID=2063884715
13. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. Web Site, http://www.brownandwilliamson.com/index_sub2.cfm?Page=/NR/Index.cfm%3FID%3D84%26Sect%3D2
14. Munger, F., "Oak Ridge lab to do smoke study," Knoxville News-Sentinel, February 13, 2003.
15. “New ORNL project takes aim at heart of air quality, health issue.” Communications and Community Outreach , Oak Ridge National Laboratory, June 4, 2004. http://www.ornl.gov/info/press_releases/get_press_release.cfm?ReleaseNumber=mr20040604-00