Study refutes claims of ’safe’ e-cigarettes

August 4th, 2009

BY THOMAS H. MAUGH II
LOS ANGELES TIMES SERVICE
Here’s an item you shouldn’t include in your ever-growing arsenal of electronic devices: the e-cigarette.

The Food and Drug Administration released an analysis of 19 varieties of electronic cigarettes (Admin note: Actually they only tested 2 devices, but tested numerous cartridges from these devices) that said half contained nitrosamines (the same carcinogen found in real cigarettes [Admin Note: What the author fails to mention is that virtually every NRT contains some trace elements of Nitrosomines]) and many contained diethylene glycol (Admin Note: Actually only one contained DEG, not many), the poisonous ingredient in antifreeze. Some that claimed to have no nicotine were found to have low levels of the drug.

E-cigarettes are promoted by their manufacturers as safer (Admin Note: While some companies make health claims, most of the reputable companies in the industry do not. Instead they market it as an alternative to traditional smoking) than traditional cigarettes because they do not burn tobacco. Instead, a lithium battery in the cigarette-shaped device heats a solution of nicotine in propylene glycol, producing a fine mist that can be inhaled to deliver nicotine directly to the lungs. An LED glows red at the tip and they even emit puffs of white smoke similar to that seen in stage shows. The devices are available in more than 4,000 retail outlets nationwide, as well as on many websites, with a starting cost of $40 to $70.

Over the last year, sales have grown from about $10 million to $100 million, according to the Electronic Cigarette Association, the industry’s trade group. They also come in a variety of flavors, including chocolate, mint and apple, which make them appealing to children and adolescents (Admin note: Since when did adults not like flavored items?).

Read the original article at http://www.miamiherald.com/living/health/story/1169197.html

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Oregon Halts Sale Of Electronic Cigarettes

August 4th, 2009

August 4, 2009

First in the nation to ban new tobacco substitute

The State of Oregon has filed two settlements that prevent two national travel store chains from selling “electronic cigarettes” in Oregon. The action is the first of its kind in the country and prevents Oregonians from buying potentially dangerous products that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve.

“When products threaten the health and safety of Oregonians, we will take action,” said Mary Williams, Oregon Deputy Attorney General. “If companies want to sell electronic cigarettes to consumers, they have to be able to prove they are safe.”

The affected travel store chains, Pilot Travel Centers, which has seven centers in Oregon, and TA Operating, which has four centers in Oregon, both sell “NJOY” brand electronic cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes are actually battery operated nicotine delivery devices constructed to mimic conventional cigarette. Each “cigarette” consists of a heating element and a replaceable plastic cartridge that contains various chemicals, including various concentrations of liquid nicotine. The heating element vaporizes the liquid, which the user inhales as if it were smoke.

Despite FDA issued “Import Alerts” against NJOY and other brands of electronic cigarettes, and despite the fact that the U.S. Customs Service detained several shipments of these devices, sales of electronic cigarettes continue throughout the United States. The products are even advertised on television.

Sales persisted even though just two weeks ago the FDA warned the public about health concerns regarding electronic cigarettes. FDA tests showed a wide variation in the amount of nicotine delivered by three different samples of nicotine cartridges with the same label.

Tests also revealed the presence of nitrosamines – a known carcinogen. By the time the FDA issued its warnings, the Oregon Department of Justice had already launched an active investigation of the sale and promotion of electronic cigarettes. NJOY electronic cigarettes were a target of that investigation.

The settlement prohibits the sale of electronic cigarettes in Oregon until they are approved by FDA, or until a court rules the FDA does not have the authority to regulate electronic cigarettes. Even if courts decide that the FDA does not have regulation authority, the settlement stipulates that electronic cigarettes may not be sold in Oregon unless there is competent and reliable scientific evidence to support the product’s safety claims.

In addition, the companies must give the Attorney General advance notice that they intend to sell electronic cigarettes in Oregon, provide copies of all electronic cigarette advertising, and provide copies of the scientific studies they maintain substantiates their claims.
Read more: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/08/or_ecigs.html

A response from the admin of this site:

The opening title states that Oregon banned the device which in fact they did not. The AG in Oregon requested that the 2 companies currently selling the device in the state provide proof to back up the claims they made. Since the companies were not able to provide the proof, the AG banned the 2 companies from selling it until proof is supplied. In reality this is not an outright ban as any company willing to not make health claims or back up any claims they make would be allowed to sell in Oregon.

While nitrosomines were detected in the cartridges from Smoking Everywhere and NJOY that the FDA did test, nitrosomines are also present in virtually every NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy) available today. Due to nicotine being extracted from tobacco, slight traces of nitrosomines are always there. These traces are in the parts per million or billion and are without a question less then the nitrosomine levels of real tobacco smoking.

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FDA report : Electronic Cigarettes are much safer than tobacco cigarettes

August 4th, 2009

Last week the FDA announced that their laboratory tests detected carcinogens (tobacco-specific nitrosamines) in electronic cigarettes and warned electronic cigarette smokers to stop using electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes.  This scare tactic certainly made front page news, but it was not the entire story.

Nitrosamines are compounds that are in tobacco cigarettes, but are also found in beer, fish, meat and cheese. The levels of these 2 compounds were found in trace amounts in electronic cigarettes, especially when compared to tobacco cigarettes.  Dr. Michael Siegel, a physician who specializes in public health and preventative medicine, states that the nitrosamine levels found in electronic cigarettes are comparable to levels in nicotine replacement products, such as NicoDerm CQ, which are approved by the FDA. “In contrast, the level of tobacco-specific nitrosamines present in tobacco products are 300 to 1400 times higher.”

The FDA seems to be trying to sway public opinion by not providing all the facts to the consumer.  Sabina King of www.e-CigaretteDirect.com stated that the “FDA scare intimidated some of our customers.  After learning all the facts, customers continued to place their electronic cigarette orders.  We feel that electronic cigarettes are a healthier option for cigarette smokers.  Our sales have increased at astounding rates every month.  This demonstrates the need of these potentially life-saving products by consumers.”

Electronic cigarettes are touted by some to help them quit smoking.  Many e-cigarette smokers claim they feel better and breathe easier using electronic cigarettes versus traditional tobacco cigarettes.  Distributors of electronic cigarettes say that their products have helped many people kick the habit.

Electronic cigarettes are intended to replace traditional cigarettes.  They produce no second-hand smoke, allowing e-cigarette smokers to ’smoke’ inside establishments that normally ban tobacco cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes contain only 20 ingredients, as opposed to tobacco cigarettes that contain over 4,000 chemicals, including known toxins and carcinogens.

Several leading tobacco researchers, including Dr. Siegel and Dr. Joel Nitzkin of the AAPHP Tobacco Control task Force have criticized the FDA and request that the FDA validate their warning with more substantial scientific evidence.  You can read Dr. Siegel’s analysis of FDA data and a comparison of http://www.e-cigarettedirect.com/Electronic-Cigarette-Resources-s/24.htm

Read the original article at http://www.onlineprnews.com/news/4028-1249403644-fda-report-electronic-cigarettes-are-much-safer-than-tobacco-cigarettes.html

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FDA Issues E-Cigarette Warning

August 3rd, 2009

Story Created: Aug 3, 2009 at 9:02 PM CDT
Story Updated: Aug 3, 2009 at 11:33 PM CDT
CEDAR RAPIDS – It’s advertised as a way around Iowa’s smoking ban. But even though there’s no smoke, there are some burning health concerns.

Makers of electric cigarettes pushed the product as the healthy way to smoke (Admin note: Reputable distributors do not make health claims, instead they market is as an alternative to traditional tobacco). Federal Health Officials say that’s not true. E-cigarettes emit a puff of flavored water vapor with nicotine and other chemicals to inhale.

Electronic cigarettes don’t contain any tobacco, but the FDA says they’re still unsafe (Admin note: What the FDA failed to disclose is the comparison between these and traditional tobacco cigarettes which are known to be unsafe. Traditional cigarettes contain hundreds, maybe even thousands of toxins, the FDA’s findings showed some samples contained a few). Yet, just like traditional cigarettes, people are still lining up to buy them.

North Liberty’s Cigarette Outlet specializes in all kinds of tobacco products, and just recently started selling electronic cigarettes.

“When they first came out, we were selling quite a bit. We sold out of our stock,” North Liberty Cigarette Outlet clerk Gabe Rael said.

One electronic cigarette costs about the same as four to five packs of traditional cigarettes and also has about the same amount of nicotine.

“It’s a great alternative for those that have to smoke, have to have their nicotine,” Rael said.

Even though e-cigarettes haven’t smoked their traditional competition quite yet, people are turning to them as a way to feed their nicotine fix.

“There’s no tar. There’s no additives…the stuff people want to avoid,” Rael said.

Yet, health experts warn nicotine in the product is still dangerous (Admin note: Again the author fails to make the comparison. Traditional tobacco cigarettes already contain the nicotine, as an alternative, it is natural the electronic cigarette would contain it.).

“It pushes the heart rate up. It makes blood pressure go up. It adversely affects the cardiovascular system,” retired physician Leslie Weber said. (Admin note: Doesn’t caffeine have similar effects?)

And, it’s also addictive.

“This is the only addictive substance we have that’s legal (Admin note: Ahem, caffeine). You can’t use cocaine. You can’t use marijuana. You can’t use heroin. Those are all illegal. Well, nicotine isn’t really all that different (Admin note: Actually, Unlike cocaine and heroin, I’ve yet to hear of someone dying from nicotine itself),” Weber said.

But, as long as nicotine remains legal and there’s demand for it, companies will keep pushing these kinds of products.

The Iowa Attorney General’s office is beginning to take a look at electronic cigarettes to see if there are any legal issues with using them in public.

On Monday, Oregon banned (Admin note: Actually they didn’t ban it, just prevented the 2 chain stores selling them from continuing to do so until they can back up the health claims they made) selling e-cigarettes until the FDA rules on their use.

To read more about the FDA’s concerns, visit this website:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm172906.htm

 

To read the original store view http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/52391727.html

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Comparison of Carcinogen Levels Shows that Electronic Cigarettes are Much Safer Than Conventional Ones

July 30th, 2009

Originally posted by Dr Michael Siegel on his blog http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/

 

Comparison of Carcinogen Levels Shows that Electronic Cigarettes are Much Safer Than Conventional Ones

The FDA last week condemned electronic cigarettes on the basis that an FDA laboratory detected carcinogens (tobacco-specific nitrosamines) in the cartridges of several electronic cigarette manufacturers. The FDA held a press conference in which it attempted to scare electronic cigarette users into discontinuing e-cigarette use (and therefore a return to conventional cigarette smoking). In addition, a number of anti-smoking groups, including the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and American Lung Association, have called for a ban on these products due to this carcinogen scare. 

The FDA (and the anti-smoking groups), however, failed to do three important things: 

First, they failed to disclose the levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamines that were detected in the electronic cigarette cartridges. 

Second, they failed to test the control product (a nicotine inhaler) to determine the carcinogen level in that product. 

Third, they failed to report the tobacco-specific nitrosamine levels in conventional tobacco products, including cigarettes.

The Rest of the Story 

Because of the FDA’s and the anti-smoking groups’ omissions, there is a need to get the rest of the story out there to the public. And here it is, in this table: 

Maximum Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamine Levels in Various 

Cigarettes and Nicotine-Delivery Products 

(ng/g, except for nicotine gum and patch which are ng/patch or ng/gum piece)

Product NNN NNK NAT NAB Total
Electronic cigarettes (2) 3.87 1.46 2.16 0.693 8.183
Nicotine gum (1) 2.00 Not detected Not detected Not detected 2.000
Nicotine patch (1) Not detected 8.00 Not detected Not detected 8.000
Swedish snus (3)         2400
Winston (1) 2200 580 560 25 3365
Newport(1) 1100 830 1900 55 3885
Marlboro (3)         6600
Camel (1) 3100 1400 2800 150 7450
Skoal (1) 4500 470 4100 220 9290
Marlboro (1) 4300 1800 4900 190 11,190

Sources:

  1. Stepanov I, Jensen J, Hatsukami D, Hecht SS. Tobacco-specific nitrosamines in new tobacco products. Nicotine & Tobacco Research 2006; 8:309-313. (Link) 
  2. Laugesen M. Safety Report on the Ruyan e-cigarette Cartridge and Inhaled Aerosol. Christchurch, New Zealand: Health New Zealand Ltd, 2008. (Link) 
  3. Wahlberg I. Tobacco-specific Nitrosamines in Unburnt New Zealand Tobaccos. Report to Health New Zealand Ltd. Swedish Match, 2004. (Link) 

As these data show, the level of tobacco-specific nitrosamines present in electronic cigarettes is at the trace level. It is measurable in parts per trillion (nanograms per gram). It is comparable to the nitrosamine levels in nicotine replacement products which are approved by the FDA. 

In contrast, the level of tobacco-specific nitrosamines present in tobacco products are 300 to 1400 times higher. On a weight-for-weight basis, Marlboro has 1400 times higher the level of tobacco-specific nitrosamines than an electronic cigarette cartridge. And keep in mind that these represent the levels in the cartridges and cigarettes, not in the tobacco smoke or e-cigarette vapor which are directly inhaled. Because of the much higher temperatures generated in tobacco combustion compared to propylene glycol vaporization, the delivery of these carcinogens into the vapor is expected to be much lower than into the tobacco smoke. 

Moreover, there are approximately 56 other carcinogens that have been identified to be present at high levels in tobacco smoke, while there are no other carcinogens that have been identified to be present in electronic cigarettes. 

Based on these data, and upon knowledge that the conventional cigarette contains at least 10,000 other chemicals, including known toxins and carcinogens, while the electronic cigarette does not, there is exceedingly strong evidence that electronic cigarettes are much, much safer than conventional ones. 

This does not mean that there are not issues that need to be addressed with electronic cigarettes. The diethylene glycol that was present in one cartridge tested suggests that more widespread and systematic testing should be done to identify the extent of this problem. Testing is also necessary to determine whether the diethylene glycol actually makes it into the e-cigarette vapor/mist. The problem should be able to be addressed easily, since high-grade propylene glycol – which is almost entirely free of diethylene glycol – is readily available. 

Appropriate procedures also need to be in place, if they are not already, to ensure that electronic cigarettes are not available to minors. 

However, what this calls for is the FDA working with the electronic cigarette manufacturers and distributors to study the product and address the identified problems. It does not call for the FDA to ban the product or pull it from the market. 

This research is not the only work that has established that electronic cigarettes are much safer than conventional cigarettes. Research conducted by Dr. Murray Laugesen and Health New Zealand Ltd. reveals that the toxic emissions score for electronic cigarettes is much lower than that of conventional cigarettes. In fact, the toxic emissions score – which is a score based on the levels of 59 priority toxicants – was zero for electronic cigarettes. In contrast, it was 126 for Marlboro and it was no lower than 100 for any brand of conventional cigarette tested. 

Note that the above study actually tested the electronic cigarette vapor. This is the most relevant test, because it determines what the user actually inhales. The study found no more than trace levels of any of the 59 priority toxicants. 

The study concluded: “Ruyan® V8 nicotine e-cigarette users do not inhale smoke or smoke toxicants. The modest reductions recommended in 2008 by WHO’s Tobacco Regulation committee for 9 major toxicants in cigarette smoke, in line with Articles 9 and 10 of the FCTC (WHO Framework Convention Tobacco Control treaty), are already far exceeded by the Ruyan® e-cigarette, as it is free of all accompanying smoke toxicants. Absolute safety does not exist for any drug, but relative to lethal tobacco smoke emissions, Ruyan e-cigarette emissions appear to be several magnitudes safer. E-cigarettes are akin to a medicinal nicotine inhalator in safety, dose, and addiction potential. E-cigarettes are cigarette substitutes. If they can take nicotine market share from cigarettes, and that is the big question, they will improve smoker and population health. They may also have a secondary role as medicinal nicotine inhaler quitting aids. Further trials of acceptability, addiction potential, clinical safety, and quitting efficacy are needed.” 

It should also be noted that there is preliminary researchwhich provides laboratory evidence that electronic cigarettes are as effective as nicotine replacement products for short-term smoking cessation (i.e., these products have been shown to provide relief of cigarette cravings at a level comparable to nicotine replacement products). This research found that electronic cigarettes are actually preferable to a nicotine inhaler in terms of helpfulness, pleasantness, and ratings of whether the smoker would use the product and recommend the product. Given the overwhelming anecdotal evidence of the effectiveness of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation, formally studying the longer-term effectiveness of these products is a research priority. 

Electronic cigarettes have the potential to be a life-saving intervention for millions of smokers. The FDA and the anti-smoking groups need to embrace this product and support the appropriate testing, not remove it abruptly from the market and sentence over a million e-cigarette users to disease and even death by a return to conventional cigarettes 

 

 

Comparison of Carcinogen Levels Shows that Electronic Cigarettes are Much Safer Than Conventional Ones

The FDA last week condemned electronic cigarettes on the basis that an FDA laboratory detected carcinogens (tobacco-specific nitrosamines) in the cartridges of several electronic cigarette manufacturers. The FDA held a press conference in which it attempted to scare electronic cigarette users into discontinuing e-cigarette use (and therefore a return to conventional cigarette smoking). In addition, a number of anti-smoking groups, including the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and American Lung Association, have called for a ban on these products due to this carcinogen scare. 

The FDA (and the anti-smoking groups), however, failed to do three important things: 

First, they failed to disclose the levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamines that were detected in the electronic cigarette cartridges. 

Second, they failed to test the control product (a nicotine inhaler) to determine the carcinogen level in that product. 

Third, they failed to report the tobacco-specific nitrosamine levels in conventional tobacco products, including cigarettes.

 

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The controversy over e-cigarettes

June 13th, 2009

Device delivers nicotine-laced vapors without smokers burning up anything

BY DANA WILSON
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Sara Jacobs smokes a pack of Marlboro Lights a day, but she has an alternative when she’s at work or other public places where lighting up is banned.
Jacobs, 21, of Columbus, can dig into her purse for her electronic cigarette. The slim, battery-powered device resembles a traditional cigarette, but is marketed as tobacco-free (Admin Note: Most electronic cigarettes use at a minimum at least nicotine extracted from Tobacco. The real key point is no burning tobacco). E-cigarettes contain an atomizer that turns liquid nicotine (Admin Note: Liquid nicotine is only a very small part of the liquid being vaporized. Most of the liquid is a Propylene Glycol or Glycerol/Glycerin ingredient) into a vapor that’s inhaled, giving the user the sensation of smoking.

“It’s very convenient,” said Jacobs, who said one nicotine cartridge lasts her about three days and gives a stronger buzz than a cigarette. “My husband doesn’t complain about my mouth tasting like a chimney.”

Jacobs, a buyer for the Garden, an adult store on N. High Street, said she purchased her InLife brand e-cigarette about a month ago, when her store started selling them.

She uses it at work when she’s too busy to take a smoke break and has tried it out at restaurants, bars and airports.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved e-cigarettes and has halted 17 shipments of them from coming into the country since March 1, said Karen Riley, an FDA spokeswoman. She said many of the blocked shipments arrived from China, where most e-cigarettes are made.

The FDA says e-cigarettes are “drug-delivery devices,” not tobacco products, and is evaluating them on a case-by-case basis, Riley said. She acknowledged that it’s possible that some overseas shipments still are passing through.

“Clearly, the mode of action here is the drug,” Riley said. “It’s nicotine, it’s addictive, and we have some real concerns about that.”

There was no mention of e-cigarettes, however, in legislation approved Thursday by the U.S. Senate and yesterday by the House that would give the FDA the power to regulate the content and marketing of cigarettes, Riley said. President Barack Obama, a smoker, has said he will sign the bill.

Meanwhile, e-cigarettes are being sold in Ohio and are untouched by the statewide smoking ban.

The ban does not include e-cigarettes because they do not burn tobacco or any other plant, said Kristopher Weiss, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Health. Still, he said, “We don’t see them here as a safe alternative to smoking.”

The Delaware General Health District recently issued an advisory about e-cigarettes, warning that they are neither safe nor healthy. Health officials plan to warn school administrators about them and will ask them to prohibit their use, said Jesse Carter, the health district’s spokesman.

“We’re very certain that school administrators wouldn’t approve of these things in schools, but what if a young person shows up with one and says, ‘I’m a smoker, and I’m trying to quit and this is my stop-smoking aid.’  ” Carter said. “We think it might be a situation where the policy needs to specifically say ‘electronic cigarettes,’ so there’s no doubt whatsoever.”

“If e-cigarettes become the next big thing, do I think children are going to try it?” said Shelly Kiser, director of advocacy for the American Lung Association in Ohio. “Most definitely.” (Admin Note: What she fails to mention is most kids couldn’t easily afford an Electronic Cigarette when kits start at $50 – $150 depending on the brand and retailer.)

There are concerns for users of all ages, Kiser said. “There have been no scientific studies of these devices, and so we don’t know anything about them. We don’t know what it does to your system when you inhale evaporated nicotine. We know that the best thing for your lungs is clean air.”

Most e-cigarette users are smokers looking for an alternative to tobacco without the side effects, said Jack Leadbeater, chairman of the Electronic Cigarette Association and president and CEO of the NJOY brand of electronic cigarettes based in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Leadbeater said his company sells only to clients who are of legal smoking age.

“There are people out there that believe that the product is being marketed to children,” Leadbeater said. “Our company and companies within the association are certainly not doing that in any shape or form.”

Puff N Stuff, a shop along N. High Street, has opted against selling e-cigarettes for now. “We’ve stayed away from it because it doesn’t have the (FDA) approval,” said Joseph Allen, general manager. “We have no idea what it is. It’s a cartridge filled with whatever they tell you.”

The Joint, a smoke shop also on N. High Street owned by the same company as the Garden, has been selling them for about a month. A starter kit costs $139.99 and includes one unit, a charger and eight nicotine cartridges.

“People are more interested in the fact that you can smoke anywhere,” said Aaron Winchell, the Joint’s assistant manager. “That’s a plus to having one of those.”

dwilson@dispatch.com

 

Read the original article at http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/06/13/ecigarettes.ART_ART_06-13-09_A1_8BE5S9S.html?sid=101

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E-cigarettes give smokers fix without lighting up

May 19th, 2009

Read the full article at http://www.wmbfnews.com/Global/story.asp?S=10388251

(NBC) – It’s been a long time since smokers could light up on a plane, or during a business meeting, but a new product is allowing them to do exactly that.

The electronic cigarette doesn’t contain tobacco or several of the other harmful carcinogens linked to traditional cigarettes. But what’s in it, and what does it do to your body?

Experts aren’t so sure.

The device does not emit smoke. It’s a vapor created by mixing water, flavoring and nicotine with the heat of a battery similar to that found in your cell phone.

“You get to smoke this any where, any time, any place, and we believe because of the current environment, taxes on cigarettes, it’s a much better economic value for you as a consumer,” said John Wiesehan Jr., president of the distributorship for e-cigarette brand N-Joy.

Wiesehansays they only market the product towards current smokers, and it should not be used as a stop smoking aid, but other manufacturers do claim e-cigarettes can help smokers quit by giving them their nicotine fix without the harmful chemicals.

“Experts aren’t so sure” – Ever since it’s inception, e-cigarette manufacturers have been clearly stating what the primary ingredients are. Propylene Glycol, Glycerine, Distilled Water, Nicotine and Artificial and Natural Flavoring. The main ingredients compromising over 90% of the liquid is Propylene Glycol and/or Glycerine, these have been studied extensively going back to the 1940’s.

The American Legacy Foundation should be ashamed of themselves. A device comes out that has thousands of people reducing their use of traditional cigarettes, and they want to see a stop to it? I wonder where the American Legacy Foundation gets its funding from.

“There have been no independant studies” – There have been independant studies done including the one by HealthNZ.

“We do not know what is in it, we do not know if when what is in it is brought into the lungs repeatedly, it is safe for the lungs,” – Actually this has been extensively studied. Considering the main active ingredients are the same used in theatre and nightclubs in the “fog machines”…

Flavors appealing to kids – Maybe, but since when did becoming an adult instantly make you dislike flavor? If anything a kid is far more likely to buy a pack of flavored nicotine candies that are available over the counter for a fraction of the cost of an ecigarette.

Posted in American Legacy Foundation, FDA | No Comments »

‘Vaping’ fast becoming a popular alternative to smoking

May 19th, 2009

Read the full article at http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6547134

 SALT LAKE CITY — If you find yourself standing next to someone who is smoking but don’t smell anything, chances are they’re not really smoking, but “vaping,” as some say.

My colleague Manoli Dakis has been smoking for about 15 years. I was curious when I found out he was converting to a new thing called the electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette.

“I could fill this room up. I could smoke in here for an hour and you probably wouldn’t even know I did it,” Manoli said.

 He’s right! Though he puffed on a device with a lighted LED light on what normally would be the combustion end of a cigarette, I smelled nothing.

Manoli was exhaling mostly water vapor; some smokers prefer a hint of fragrance like mint or chocolate. It brings into question whether secondhand cigarette smoke is even an issue with this device.

Dissecting the e-cigarette, I found the LED light, a battery, an electronic chip, an airflow sensor, an ultrasound vaporizer and the inserted nicotine cartridge.

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Some Question Safety Of Electronic Cigarettes

May 19th, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Since Ohio joined several other states in a smoking ban 2 years ago, some smokers have found a new way to indulge their habit in public places that is about half the cost of cigarettes.

“It’s kind of a logical alternative to smoking,” said Dustin Claypool, a distributor for InLife Electronic Cigarettes.

The cigarettes are black, not white and glow blue, not red, 10TV’s Andrea Cambern reported.

The steel tubes of the electronic cigarettes contain a battery, an atomizer and a cartridge.

“The cartridge contains nicotine and water and a food additive, called propylene glycol,” Claypool said.

According to Claypool, a smoker can breathe in nicotine and exhale water vapor without tobacco’s 4,000 chemicals and carcinogens.  His non-smoking business partner, Steve Petrosino, said the cigarettes help those who can’t or won’t quit.

“They enjoy the act of smoking,” Petrosino said.  “They’re going to continue smoking.”

Read the full article at http://www.10tv.com/live/content/health/stories/2009/05/19/story_cigarettes.html?sid=102

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Electronic Cigarettes May Be A Safer Alternative

May 13th, 2009

Read the original article at http://cbs4.com/local/Electronic.Cigarettes.Text.2.1008425.html

Recently many some smokers have found a way to smoke anywhere they want without hurting themselves or the health of others. They’re called electronic cigarettes and CBS4’s Cynthia Demos took a look at how they work.

“I’ve probably been a smoker since my late teens,” said Charles Jay.
 
When the Hollywood resident heard about electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, he was intrigued by the convenience.

“I could basically do it anywhere because you weren’t leaving an odor behind or leaving any smoke behind,” said Jay.

While the e-cigarettes look like traditional cigarettes, they emit no smoke or odor and contain no tobacco or tar. Instead pharmaceutical grade nicotine and water are used in many of the brands sold in malls and on the internet. One of those brands, the Clean Cigarette, was created by Frank Simotics.

He explained that his e-cigarette “holds a pack of nicotine flavor and water so if you smoke a pack a day this will last you all day.”

The Clean Cigarette uses a microchip with a lithium battery to heat up the device and a nicotine vapor is emitted when the user inhales.

“There’s an LED indicator light on the end that simulates the burning of a cigarette,” explained Simotics.

Smoking Everywhere, located in Fort Lauderdale, sells a number of electronic cigarette brands and claims the advantages to it’s e-cigarettes include no smoke, odor or flame, freedom to smoke anywhere and a healthier way to smoke.

Jay and Simotics said there’s also a hidden benefit to smoking e-cigarettes. They both admit they are smoking less and feeling better in the process.

“I can taste now. I can smell again. I had so much energy after two weeks. I didn’t realize I was dumping 3,000 chemicals in my body everyday for 12 years,” according to Simotics.

“I’m probably smoking less and probably saving money,” admitted Jay.

While the kits can start at $150, e-cigarettes are rechargable and replacement filters often come in packs of 5 for $10. That’s equal to five packs of cigarettes for $10.

Despite the economical and potential health benefits, thoracic oncologist Rhaa Mudad with Memorial Healthcare System said he’s concerned e-cigarettes promote the habit of smoking.
 
“I think kids should not be allowed to buy this. It should be regulated the way we regulate cigarettes,” Dr. Rhaa suggested.

E-cigarette users we spoke to say they’re not for everyone but are an alternative worth considering.

“It’s not for kids, it’s for people that are smokers already that want a healthier way to smoke or a way to cut back on their smoking,” Simotics explained.

“I think it’s going to become a bigger industry and I think you’re going to see a lot of these out there,” said Jay.

Most electronic cigarettes are made in China and are not considered safe by the Food and Drug Administration.

Health experts say the concept of an electronic cigarette does seem safer than traditional cigarettes but more scientific studies are needed.

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