Electronic Cigarettes: The Bad, The Ugly, The Truth

**NCC** · 05-21-2010, 03:55 AM

I visited my 81 year old mother this evening. She seemed concerned as she handed me a copy of an area cage liner, the "Lynn Haven Ledger", Vol. 2, No. 10 - May 13-May 27, 2010 - FREE. Lynn Haven is a town near where I live. I'd never heard of this rag of a 'newspaper' until this evening.

So, anyway, on the front page of this rag, bottom half begins the story, which concludes on page 13. It features a photo of the grinning author and color photo of some PV I can't identify. To follow is the story verbatim. I don't suppose I should've been surprised by what I read, but I was anyway.

Electronic Cigarettes: The Bad, The Ugly, The Truth
By Timothy Moriarty, MD
Emerald Coast Research Associates

Electronic cigarettes have exploded onto the US consumer market over the past several years. They have been sold in Europe for over a decade and more recently in China. The U.S. market had more than 14 brands until the FDA issued an import bulletin on 12 of these, thus preventing these products from entering our country.

These products are interesting devices to deliver, in some cases, an addictive drug, nicotine, in others, frank poisons, propylene glycol or diethylene glycol-antifreeze, and finally, known human carcinogens called nitrosamines. Furthermore, there are multiple other agents and flavorings in these products. In fact, to date, 18 different flavors have been marketed, the most popular being menthol mint, chocolate, cherry and strawberry.

The E cigarette has been advertised as a safe alternative to smoking or as a way to help stop smoking. To date, there is not one study that the FDA can cite or accept these claims. In fact, the FDA issued the following statement, "No scientific evidence has been submitted to the FDA to support claims that these products are safe or that they can be used as a method to quit smoking."

In a more recent statement, the FDA stated inhaled nicotine, inhaled propylene glycol and other impurities have not been studied for safe vapor levels. No safe levels of propylene glycol have been established. The FDA has started testing these products and found nicotine in so called "nicotine free" brands. Furthermore, nicotine levels varied up to 10 times between cartridges.

The E cigarette can be used in public places where smoking has been banned. Advertising for these products state there is no tar, tobacco, or carbon monoxide associated with the use of these devices. However, these devices can be used by teens less than 18 years of age and lead to habituation to nicotine. A vast majority of addiction specialists agree that nicotine addiction is more difficult to break than that of alcohol, ......, or {Insert auto censored word for Coke here}.

The industry states that they are not marketing this product to children. OH REALLY .... then why are there multiple candy-type flavors? Why are these devices allowed to be sold to children under the age of 18? Why are E cigarettes primarily sold at mall kiosks and on the Internet?

The real cost per month is between $75-100/month. The larger cost may be in the addiction of our children to nicotine. Both nicotine and propylene glycol can cause serious illness and death. One can check with morbidity and mortality weekly or poison control to understand the scope of the illnesses that they can cause.

Finally, these products may help, but vary in strength of nicotine per dose and by-products that may cause health problems, such as increased blood pressure, increased heart rate and can lead to chest pain, heart attacks or strokes. The FDA has not issued a final ruling on these cigarettes, but Australia has banned them.
PARENTS AND BUYERS BEWARE!

Here's the site of the MD's place of business - Emerald Coast Research
There's a link on that page from which you may contact them, should you feel motivated to do so.

**CJsKee** · 05-21-2010, 04:06 AM

Well for god's sake...I believe that's the worse I've seen yet

Where in the hell did they get some of that stuff?? I hope Vocalek or Kristin (or anyone who is a better wordsmith than me) will contact them.

**lonercom** · 05-21-2010, 04:53 AM

My emailed response

After reading the ignorant information, regurgitated information from erroneous press releases and called original, I doubt your capacity for dispassionate research.

The author of that press release is a fool and in the medical industry a total waste of lambskin.

**nojoyet** · 05-21-2010, 04:56 AM

NCC

Is there a link to the cage liner? Being myself not articulate enough to properly impress the MDs I want to at least ask who was irresponsible enough to allow such tripe to be printed or something along those lines.

Thanks

**NCC** · 05-21-2010, 05:12 AM

nojoyet: I can't find a web site or email for the paper, and wouldn't be too surprised if that is because they don't have them. I DO have a telephone number listed to call for advertising rates ... don't know how much good that would do you. 850-271-1607

**NCC** · 05-21-2010, 05:26 AM

Interesting, I just found what would probably be motivation for their stance on vaping. From their site, follow the link to the NEW Spring 2010 Newsletter, on page two, several entries regarding smoking cessation. It appears to me that they have a financial interest in people using the traditional methods of going tobacco free.

**nojoyet** · 05-21-2010, 05:33 AM

Thanks NCC

and rats; I'll save my long distance pennies for the major issues and hope someone local gives them an earfull.

I'll watch this thread and if a website or email is eventually found pls post it

**MsSki** · 05-21-2010, 05:35 AM

What jerks, i get so mad when they want to say the Flavors are to get kids hooks, Im sorry but Im an adult and I like things to have flavor weather be my ecig, my gum, or food......What jerk faces
Tara