Oct. 19, 2004 – Imported tobacco laced with banned cancer-causing chemicals and pesticides could enter the US after Congress voted last week to eliminate government inspections.
About 60 of the 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke are linked to cancer. "What this may do is just add to that number, making an already toxic product even more toxic," Tom Glynn, director of science and trends for the American Cancer Society, told the Associated Press.
Officials at the Agriculture Department, the Homeland Security Department and the Food and Drug Administration told the AP they did not know of any other agricultural product that enters the US without inspection.
