E-Cig article on Digg becomes popular

[knifesideleft]

How truly safe are E-Cigarettes?

On the main page right now. Could use more discussion on the comments page and possibly helping the uniformed. Sorry if this is in the wrong place btw, couldn't decide which thread this fit better in.

[tarheeldan]

Nice find! The article is a bit dated (May '09), but the discussion is recent, so I think I'll add in my two cents there and maybe help spread relevant info before I hit the hay. The majority of the comments seem to be positive re: PV's save for one ex-smoker who unfortunately has now become "one of those" and some scattered rabid antis. Cheers!

[tarheeldan]

Here's what I ended up posting, hope I did right by us vapers:

First off, a few studies conducted regarding electronic cigarettes:

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=...ZjgwYWUz&hl=en
http://www.healthnz.co.nz/RuyanCartr...t30-Oct-08.pdf
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/S.../UCM173250.pdf
NJOY Electronic Cigarettes - The Smoking Alternative with All the Pleasures Without All the Problems
And there's also the NZ study linked by SmokingPope (above)

The findings, yes even in the FDA study, are that tobacco specific nitrosamine (TSNA) levels in e-cigarette fluid are comparable to those found in the nicotine replacement therapy products (NRT) such as the patch and gum. The FDA found trace amounts of diethylene glycol in 1 out of 17 cartridges they tested, likely residue from the nicotine extraction process from tobacco. The other 16 cartridges did not have detectable levels.

The liquid vaporized by electronic cigarettes is composed of either propylene glycol (used in combination with triethylene gycol in fog machines and on it's own in asthma inhalers and such) or vegetable glycerin, nicotine, and flavoring. Propylene glycol is sometimes used as an ingredient in antifreeze but in order to make it less toxic, and taste less sweet (therefore making it safer for animals). It has also been found to be rather safe in a number of studies:

http://www.ajph.org/cgi/reprint/36/4/390.pdf
Medicine: Air Germicide - TIME
http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregist...glycol_red.pdf

Overall, evidence (and common sense) thus far indicate that use of electronic cigarettes is far less harmful to users and bystanders than tobacco cigarettes. They can be used to step down to 0 nicotine as cartridges and liquid are available in different nicotine concentrations. However, nicotine consumption at levels common to an e-cigarette user are hardly more harmful than caffeine users (read coffee drinkers). Here's what wikipedia has on nicotine (I know, it's wikipedia but there are sources at any rate):
Nicotine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

On a personal note, I've been smoking for 12 years and using electronic cigarettes has given me real hope of quitting. I tried cold turkey and the gum numerous times and just went back to smoking. With this product I can simulate the act of smoking (a substantial part of the addiction) and yet avoid ~4000 chemicals found in tobacco cigarettes. I have not had a cigarette since I started using one. Banning these makes little sense.