March 1, 2001 12:06: AS a health professional involved in providing smoking cessation support I have been following the smoking correspondence with interest.

I am anxious that some of the misleading health information in Mr Fagan's letter of February 8 be redressed.

I would also urge anyone intending to take his arguments seriously to check them out first. There are usually several ways in which data can be interpreted and always two sides to an argument.

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) can provide an alternative view and one that many of us find more plausible. ASH can be contacted at: 102 Clifton Street, London EC2A 4HW, telephone (020) 7739 5902 or www.ash.org.uk

I would like to address the following points made in Mr Fagan's letter:

Passive smoking: It was indicated that World Health Organisation research had proved that passive smoking was beneficial in preventing lung cancer in children. This is a gross distortion of the facts where, in common with other research, a link was found between passive smoking and lung cancer. The effects of passive smoking are still being determined but there are increasing indications that it is associated, among other things, with cot death and the increased incidence of respiratory and ear infections in children.

Diet: A challenge was laid down to explain why the Japanese live longest but are one of the heaviest smoking nations. It was intimated that diet was the answer. Undoubtedly the role of diet in preventing many forms of ill health including cancer, is well documented. What is pertinent in relation to smoking is that lung cancer rates are increasing in those countries like Japan and Greece that currently enjoy longevity. If they continue to smoke heavily it is likely that this will have an adverse impact on future longevity. The effectstake some time to be reflected in mortality rates.

Smoke-free pubs: There are in the region of a dozen totally smoke-free pubs now and a great many more that operate smoking restrictions. A guide is available from Buckinghamshire Alliance for Action on Smoking (BAAS) entitled "Food Without Fumes" which lists establishments in Buckinghamshire providing smoke-free eating facilities, including pubs.

Rights to choose: This letter quoted Churchill who sadly could not benefit from the knowledge now available to us. Perhaps we should look to our present leadership for inspiration: "If people chose to stop smoking they would live longer. Smoking kills," said Prime Minister Tony Blair in the preface to the tobacco white paper.

Finally, if anyone would like help to stop smoking, they should contact their GP . Alternatively advice can be sought from pharmacists, community nurses and national helplines like the NHS line on (0800) 169 0 169.

Penny Quilter, Health Visitor, Glade Road, Marlow