NPR: Officials Probe E-Cigarettes' Health Claims

[IntoxiNation]

by Debbie Elliott

Entrepreneurs are always trying to come up with new products for smokers: a nicotine lollipop or a bottle of Nico Water to give you that fix when you can't light up.

Those products didn't pass muster with the Food and Drug Administration. And now, the agency is taking a closer look at the latest trend: electronic cigarettes.

At the smoke-free Tyson's Corner shopping mall in McLean, Va., Clarence Chatman puffs away on what appears to be a lit cigarette; little white clouds billow from his nostrils.....

Read the rest of the article here: Officials Probe E-Cigarettes' Health Claims

[Lorddrek]

"I think there's a lot of possibilities; it's intriguing," says Thomas Glynn with the American Cancer Society. "But it needs to go through some rigorous testing before the public health community would feel comfortable with it."

Glynn says similar nicotine-only products haven't caught on, in part because smokers are so tied to the ritual of smoking. E-cigarettes could be different, Glynn says, if FDA-reviewed clinical studies show they are safe and effective.

"Any product that we ingest, we'd like to see go through the Food and Drug Administration," Glynn says. "I mean, we know more, to be honest, about what's in dog food and macaroni and cheese than we know what's in tobacco in this country. And there's no reason to introduce yet another product where we don't know what we're ingesting."

These are very legitimate concerns. Too bad the FDA has a history of failing the public and being heavily manipulated by lobbyist driven politicians. You can be sure whatever is determined will not be in our best interests.

Lorddrek

[TropicalBob]

They are indeed legitimate concerns, but I'm buoyed by the balance in this report and others we're starting to see. Finally, both sides are being presented. I surely agree that we cannot know pressures the FDA might be experiencing from outside interests, however, and the only thing I think is certain is that today's completely unregulated e-smoking practice will not continue to be allowed.

[Autoevo]

I have noticed an increasing amount of news stories on e-cigs, obviously because of there gain in popularity. At the end of all the articles that i have been viewing while surfing about the web, i see comments at the end of the articles. I have yet to come across any comments opposing the idea of e-smoking. I find it heartening to see so many supporters of this alternative to smoking tobacco. I try to make it a point to add my comments at the end of these articles in hopes that the general pubilic will see that there is a product that can be a healthier alternative and possibly even suggest e-cigs to someone they care for.

Thank you to those who have put your two cents in on these e-cig articles and signed the petition. With enough voices we may actually get someone to hear us!

[Chevron07]

This doesn't appear balanced at all. It's all about the e-cig being used to avoid taxes and do an end run around ban's.

And there's no reason to introduce yet another product where we don't know what we're ingesting.

Really Mr. Glynn of the F'ing CANCER SOCIETY? You can't think of even ONE reason to introduce this product? Just another quite or die article.

[lachesis]

"Some people may mistakenly perceive these products to be safer alternatives to conventional tobacco use"
Well, Ms Chappelle needs to attend basic science class in nearby elementary schools then.

[Gearwork]

It's worded badly but I think the gist of that quote was that non-smokers would start vaping cause it's (percieved as) a safe alternative to smoking. Instead of smokers switching because it's (probably) a safeR alternative to smoking. That's a valid concern, but it's like denying a drowning man a life preserver because some people might go swimming with them.

As for the don't know what we are ingesting comment. We know a heck of a lot more of what we are ingesting/inhaling than any smoker knows. PG/VG, Nicotine, Water, and flavoring. I worry about the flavoring myself but not as much as I worry about whats in my cigarettes.

[green-lantern]

Well, compared to what we have been seeing lately this is a little more middle of the road. I do feel some of the reasons to use them where left out.

[Closet Toker]

The idea of reducing nicotine in tobacco products is wrong.
Can a Nicotine user have only a partial addiction? Of course not.
Tobacco and Nicotine use will be even higher than it is now. What a totally ridiculous theory.

Good news for Big Tobacco, and Federal taxes!

Our country’s Democracy is a mere illusion. We have two sets of political parties, owned by the same set of corporate lobbyists. Artificially placed in their positions by the corporations, projected by they're media in a system of coherent corruption.

.

[nitewriter]

In an advertisement, the maker of one e-cigarette, Smoking Everywhere, claims, "Fact: Smoking Everywhere electronic cigarette is the healthier way to smoke." That claim raises a red flag for government regulators.

I think S.E. should be boycotted for these claims. Suppliers that are making "healthier" claims are shooting us all in the foot! It's drawing unwanted attention on a daily basis.

It burns my beans every time!!!