1974-5 During the early 1970's concern over ETS was focused on its irritating effects. At the BAT research conference held in Merano, Italy, in April 1975, BAT scientists discussed passive smoking at length. Participants agreed that research into the irritating effects of sidestream smoke should be undertaken. BAT's scientists made this statement nearly a decade before the general scientific community had recognized ETS as a serious threat to public health. In addition, Carl Becker, a researcher at Cornell University, had published a series of studies on glycoproteins in tobacco smoke.
Glycoproteins are a class of proteins that often induce allergic reactions.
Becker's first study showed that glycoprotein isolated from tobacco could produce allergic reactions in some individuals. The minutes of the meeting note that BAT scientists at Southhampton had repeated Becker's experiments and had confirmed that glycoprotein is present in mainstream smoke. The researchers agreed that the studies should be repeated for sidestream smoke. Becker published a second study on tobacco glycoproteins in 1977. Becker's findings were reported in the New York Times.