Publishers of fashion magazines who ignored a grassroots letter-writing campaign urging an end to cigarette ads are now hearing from members of Congress, the Associated Press reported June 6.

A group of 41 lawmakers led by Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) wrote a letter to 11 publications, including Cosmopolitan, Vogue, and Glamour, calling for publishers to stop accepting ads for tobacco products. The letter singled out for criticism ads for Camel No. 9, a new R.J. Reynolds product being marketed to women. "To our great concern, R.J. Reynolds is heavily relying on leading women's magazines, including yours, to aggressively market this deadly product to young women, including teenagers," the lawmakers wrote.

"As a nurse, a mother and a grandmother, I am very concerned about popular women's magazines accepting the advertising dollars of cigarette manufacturers and turning a blind eye towards the deadly effect these cigarettes have on women," said Capps.

Other magazines that received the letter included Lucky, W, Elle, Marie Claire, US Weekly, InStyle, Interview Magazine, and Soap Opera Digest. Publishers had no immediate response.