Senator Feinstein-
I appreciate your response.
You note some reservations about e-cigarettes that I must address. The trace chemicals of toxins you note were found when the FDA tested eighteen cartridges manufactured by two brands of electronic cigarettes in May of 2009. They found trace levels of tobacco specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in the liquid. However, the levels they detected were comparable to those found in FDA-approved nicotine cessation products. A single cartridge of the eighteen tested was found to contain a non-toxic amount (roughly 1%) diethylene glycol. All the facts of this study are not accurately represented on the FDAs website, and I have written them repeatedly to ask that the correct this. At this time, they have not responded or clarified the information. I encourage you (or your staff) to look deeper into this issue. This is an old study. One of the manufacturers (the one which had diethylene glycol in its sample) is no longer making e-liquids. The industry has changed a great deal since 2009.
I find it distressing that the facts about e-cigarettes are being distorted by a public institution like the FDA. I have no idea why they won’t clarify this information. It is difficult to understand why it has been handled this way so far.
Here is an excellent response to the FDA study:
http://casaa.org/uploads/Exponent_Response-to-the-FDA-Summary.pdf
The insinuation that flavors like gum, fruits, and candies are a tactic to market e-cigarettes to children is entirely without merit. Many of these same flavors are used to flavor the FDA approved cessation products like gum and lozenges. As an adult user of e-cigarettes, I enjoy using both tobacco flavors and sweeter flavors like mint chocolate chip, dark chocolate, and even a knock-off of Chunky Monkey ice cream! The manufacturers of these liquids are a wonderful cottage industry here in the United States. Many of the best ones make their homes right here in California. Every one of these vendors I have done business with will not permit underage customers onto their website. These are good folks trying to sell a product that has a growing base of adult customers. These manufacturers of electronic cigarette liquids are not Big Tobacco companies who have demonstrated betrayal of public trust, these are small companies keeping people working in troubled economic times.
There are significant studies that show that vapor from e-cigarettes greatly reduce the dangers associated with smoking. Some of the best ones are:
http://publichealth.drexel.edu/SiteData/docs/ms08/f90349264250e603/ms08.pdf
http://casaa.org/uploads/RuyanCartridgeReport30-Oct-08.pdf
There are also several relevant studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of electronic cigarettes as cessation tools. At the heart of this is the Tobacco Harm Reduction associated with use of electronic cigarettes when compared to smoked tobacco.
http://www.ajpm-online.net/webfiles/images/journals/amepre/AMEPRE3013.pdf
http://ntr.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/05/12/ntr.ntr088.abstract
I appreciate your response.
You note some reservations about e-cigarettes that I must address. The trace chemicals of toxins you note were found when the FDA tested eighteen cartridges manufactured by two brands of electronic cigarettes in May of 2009. They found trace levels of tobacco specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in the liquid. However, the levels they detected were comparable to those found in FDA-approved nicotine cessation products. A single cartridge of the eighteen tested was found to contain a non-toxic amount (roughly 1%) diethylene glycol. All the facts of this study are not accurately represented on the FDAs website, and I have written them repeatedly to ask that the correct this. At this time, they have not responded or clarified the information. I encourage you (or your staff) to look deeper into this issue. This is an old study. One of the manufacturers (the one which had diethylene glycol in its sample) is no longer making e-liquids. The industry has changed a great deal since 2009.
I find it distressing that the facts about e-cigarettes are being distorted by a public institution like the FDA. I have no idea why they won’t clarify this information. It is difficult to understand why it has been handled this way so far.
Here is an excellent response to the FDA study:
http://casaa.org/uploads/Exponent_Response-to-the-FDA-Summary.pdf
The insinuation that flavors like gum, fruits, and candies are a tactic to market e-cigarettes to children is entirely without merit. Many of these same flavors are used to flavor the FDA approved cessation products like gum and lozenges. As an adult user of e-cigarettes, I enjoy using both tobacco flavors and sweeter flavors like mint chocolate chip, dark chocolate, and even a knock-off of Chunky Monkey ice cream! The manufacturers of these liquids are a wonderful cottage industry here in the United States. Many of the best ones make their homes right here in California. Every one of these vendors I have done business with will not permit underage customers onto their website. These are good folks trying to sell a product that has a growing base of adult customers. These manufacturers of electronic cigarette liquids are not Big Tobacco companies who have demonstrated betrayal of public trust, these are small companies keeping people working in troubled economic times.
There are significant studies that show that vapor from e-cigarettes greatly reduce the dangers associated with smoking. Some of the best ones are:
http://publichealth.drexel.edu/SiteData/docs/ms08/f90349264250e603/ms08.pdf
http://casaa.org/uploads/RuyanCartridgeReport30-Oct-08.pdf
There are also several relevant studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of electronic cigarettes as cessation tools. At the heart of this is the Tobacco Harm Reduction associated with use of electronic cigarettes when compared to smoked tobacco.
http://www.ajpm-online.net/webfiles/images/journals/amepre/AMEPRE3013.pdf
http://ntr.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/05/12/ntr.ntr088.abstract
