Nevermind - found one on my own.
This one breaks down the 400,000 figure and says exactly what I stated above; the definition of 'smoking related deaths' is a little 'smokey' (no pun intended, of course)
http://www.cato.org/dailys/04-29-99.htmlThe crusade against the tobacco industry began with a kernel of truth -- that cigarettes are a high risk factor for lung cancer -- that has exploded into a war driven by greed and bad science. In today's commentary, Robert A. Levy and Rosalind Marimont take a fresh look at the case against smoking minus the propaganda fueling the fire of debate. They argue that the claim of smoking causing 400,000 premature deaths each year in the U.S. does not hold up under close scrutiny.
The truth is that smoking-related deaths, even under the generous definitions used by CDC, are associated with old age. Nearly 60 percent of the deaths occur at age 70 or above; nearly 45 percent at age 75 or above; and almost 17 percent at the grand old age of 85 or above! Nevertheless, without the slightest embarrassment, the public health community persists in characterizing those deaths as "premature." Regrettable, yes; premature, no.
None of this is to suggest that the attack against cigarettes is entirely dishonest. Without question, the evidence is that cigarettes substantially increase the risk of lung cancer, bronchitis, and emphysema. But most deaths from those diseases occur at an advanced age. The relationship between smoking and other diseases is not nearly so clear; and the scare mongering that has passed for science is quite simply appalling. The unifying bond of all science is that truth is its aim. That goal must not yield to politics, and science must not be corrupted to advance predetermined political ends. Sadly, that is exactly what has transpired as our public officials fabricate evidence to promote their crusade against big tobacco.
The table on the site where the 427,743 'smoking related deaths' is analysed, case by case, is particularly interesting.
For example, burn victims are included. This in addition to the 120,000 odd deaths occuring between the ages of 75 and 84 and the 71,000 odd deaths amongst those 85 years of age or older.
Those deaths are classified as 'All Other Diseases' however it appears as though they are used as 'smoking related death' statistics in this case simple because they used a tobacco product - be it a cigarette, cigar or pipe.
By this logic, if I died at age 88 many years down the road and I was a soda drinker my death would be 'soda related.'
Hardly a strong argument if you ask me.
