Problem/Objective: The tobacco industry has known for over four decades that tobacco smoke contains measurable quantities of polonium-210 (PO-210). Tobacco users have been found to have higher levels of PO-210 than comparable non tobacco users. PO-210 decays by emitting alpha particles. The highest concentrations of PO-210 have been found in the bronchial epithelium at the point of bronchial segmental bifurcations;sites previously know to be the most frequent for the occurrence of bronchogenic squamous cell carcinoma. The recent publicity surrounding the former KGB agent's poisoning with PO-210 has heightened the awareness of both the public and the public health community to the toxic nature of tobacco smoke for smokers and nonsmokers alike: particularly as relevant to warning labels and the current debate on the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which would give the FDA legal authority to regulate tobacco.

Methods: Accordingly, we reviewed the tobacco industry's internal documents to ascertain its previous legal, scientific, and public relations strategies in response to the PO-210 issue.

Results: Internal documents show that beginning in the 1960s, efforts were undertaken to remove PO-210 from cigarettes. Furthermore, when that strategy proved not to be commercially viable, tobacco industry lawyers suppressed internal research from the public so to not, in the industry's own words, “awaken a sleeping giant.”

Conclusions: The industry's approach to the PO-210 issue sharply contrasts with its overall strategy regarding smoking and health during the same time where the public persona of the industry was characterized by creating doubt and controversy to defraud the public.