This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Thursday, 22 April 2021
Cutting Through the Haze
A 'scientific' paper, published in the European Respiratory Journal, claiming that current smokers are protected from Covid-19 infections, has been retracted (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/apr/22/scientific-paper-claiming-smokers-less-likely-to-acquire-covid-retracted-over-tobacco-industry-links). Retraction is a process where a journal 'disowns' one of its papers. The paper claimed that current smokers were 23% less likely to be diagnosed with a Covid-19 infection than were non-smokers. The publication was initially retracted, because 2 of its authors failed to divulge their financial links to the tobacco industry. An independent analysis of their data also revealed biases and knowledge gaps by the authors. A protective effect of smoking on Covid-19 infections was never likely, as it impairs lung function. It's amazing what sometimes gets published.
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