In other tobacco-related news, four U.S. senators have sent a letter to the Major League Baseball players union, asking them to agree to a ban on chewing tobacco during baseball s World Series, which begins tonight with Texas visiting St. Louis. Along with other health officials, the senators explained why such a ban is necessary: When players use smokeless tobacco, they endanger not only their own health, but also the health of millions of children who follow their example.
But ACSH's Dr. Gilbert Ross is quick to point out, It s also important that the senators make the distinction between chewing tobacco and modern smokeless tobacco products, which are much safer. They should not confuse consumers by just lumping all these products together; they have very different risk profiles. Of course, both types are much safer than smoking cigarettes.