WHEN HYSTERIA WINS

Editor -- Congratulation on Ms. Lochhead's column on loss of common sense
to hysteria. As a retired chemical engineer who smokes and has a long
history of working and playing with asbestos, I have sat and laughed at the
stupidity and unfounded hysteria surrounding asbestos and secondhand
cigarette smoke.

Tests designed to prove a point and the subsequent statistical figures
quoted are not worth the paper they are written on. If one sets out to
prove something good or bad, the basic concept of statistical analysis is
invalid and it becomes a biased study.

A person walking down a San Francisco street receives more toxins in the
air they breathe from trucks and cars than a person sitting in a closed
room with a cigarette smoker all day. Again thanks to The Chronicle for
publishing Ms. Lochhead's column. Maybe a few people will read it and
profit from the message she gives.

WILLIAM C. BRIGGS
Concord

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)