E-Cig Misguided Safety Reports Now Hitting College Campus Newspapers

[Sun Vaporer]

As Reported here in the University of Ohio’s newspaper, the misinformation as put forth by The Early Show earlier this week is disseminating:


"In a recent interview on "The Early Show", Dr. Jonathan Whiteson from New York University’s Cardiac and Pulmonary Wellness and Rehabilitation Program, said there is no proof these cigarettes are safe. The cigarettes are made in China, are unregulated and have not been approved by the FDA. It is unknown how much nicotine is actually in the cigarette and we are unaware of the contents within the vapor. One may ask: Could the electronic cigarette be worse for you than cigarettes?"

"According to Whiteson, there is a good chance it could be worse than regular cigarettes. Manufacturers seem to think it is a safer bet, but there has been no analysis done of the vapor"

We can now see the rank disregard in using due diligence by The Early Show is causing a wave of other reports citing this misguided report as authoritative. Absent that, the report is well written. It seems quite apparent now that other Reporters are going to rely heavily on the Early Show’s misguided information. With both the New Zealand Study and the Ruyan Studies buried deep in the mass of misinformation, I am afraid that accurate reporting on the E-cig is going to be the standard for some time to come or at least until some other major media source accurately reports on the current studies that have been conducted and are very encouraging with regards to the e-cig —Sun See http://uweekly.com/newsmag/03-04-2009/10463

[Doostin]

I'm sure you have all seen this but it is still my favourite write-up about electronic cigarettes. It's from the site I visit daily, and I would not of heard of them if it we're for these folks.

Electronic cigarettes: A safe substitute? - health - 11 February 2009 - New Scientist

(Also some pretty good discussion in the 12 pages of comments as far as article threads go...worthwhile reading them as well)

[Sun Vaporer]

I'm sure you have all seen this but it is still my favourite write-up about electronic cigarettes. It's from the site I visit daily, and I would not of heard of them if it we're for these folks.

Electronic cigarettes: A safe substitute? - health - 11 February 2009 - New Scientist

(Also some pretty good discussion in the 12 pages of comments as far as article threads go...worthwhile reading them as well)

Doostin--indeed that Report was very viable---what is disappointing is the Mass Media outlets are the ones that gets to most people and to cite the Early Show, as many reports will now do with regards to e-cigs, is a rank travisty--Sun

[Doostin]

Well, I have a feeling because of this sudden media frenzy these will probably be a topic of discussion at all of the upcoming medical conferences. Hopefully if the professional community is truly curious about this and its potential benefits and/or hazards, it may be able to pull some resources together to put this through the labs.

I really think these can be the 1-2 punch that the world has been waiting for in terms of smoking cessation since the electronic cigarette has in my opinion redefined pleasurable nicotine consumption. Patches and gums just don't work because they don't do anything to fulfill the mental, psychological and habitual aspects of the habit.

If others that are smart enough (with resources) to realize this possibility, hopefully they'll attempt to find out.

Gonna have to get The Doctors to cover this again lol...they've only covered everything else medical out there 50 times over already and they're the only ones in the mainstream who seem to have an optimistic view about these... :S

[Sun Vaporer]

Well, I have a feeling because of this sudden media frenzy these will probably be a topic of discussion at all of the upcoming medical conferences. Hopefully if the professional community is truly curious about this and its potential benefits and/or hazards, it may be able to pull some resources together to put this through the labs.

I really think these can be the 1-2 punch that the world has been waiting for in terms of smoking cessation since the electronic cigarette has in my opinion redefined pleasurable nicotine consumption. Patches and gums just don't work because they don't do anything to fulfill the mental, psychological and habitual aspects of the habit.

If others that are smart enough (with resources) to realize this possibility, hopefully they'll attempt to find out.

Gonna have to get The Doctors to cover this again lol...they've only covered everything else medical out there 50 times over already and they're the only ones in the mainstream who seem to have an optimistic view about these... :S

Good Point Doostin--I begs the question when the Mass Market Media will pick up again on this topic with an accurate report instead of being stuck with The Early Show report--I do not think CBS is going to retreat from their story in future reports--so they are out of the loop. Lets hope for some due dilagence with others!---Sun

[NewcastleB]

"Lets hope for some due dilagence with others!---Sun"
I doubt that you're going to see that anytime soon. A factual report won't get the ratings that a sensationalistic story based on dubious facts will. I was just watching the Colbert Report and they had a bit about the media picking up a story and running with it without bothering to check any of the facts. Imagine this: a parody news website runs a fake story, a college newspaper picks it up, a local media outlet picks it up from them, it spreads all the way to a national morning infotainment show.

Here's a non-link to the Corbert bit:
colbertnation. com /the-colbert-report-videos/220488/march-03-2009/beer-pong-herpes-outbreak

And remember it's all fun and games until someone catches herpes

[Sun Vaporer]

"Lets hope for some due dilagence with others!---Sun"
I doubt that you're going to see that anytime soon. A factual report won't get the ratings that a sensationalistic story based on dubious facts will. I was just watching the Colbert Report and they had a bit about the media picking up a story and running with it without bothering to check any of the facts. Imagine this: a parody news website runs a fake story, a college newspaper picks it up, a local media outlet picks it up from them, it spreads all the way to a national morning infotainment show.

Here's a non-link to the Corbert bit:
colbertnation. com /the-colbert-report-videos/220488/march-03-2009/beer-pong-herpes-outbreak

And remember it's all fun and games until someone catches herpes

NewCastle--Exactly,---when "rumor" becomes the "standard becnhmark" for reporting--you might as well read the funnies to get the real deal---Sun

[LaceyUnderall]

On our blog I wrote a pretty scathing post regarding the original show but I will tell you one thing... the smokers saw right through the CBS Morning Show and ordered anyways... One woman even told me that the show was so skewed that the product "Must be fabulous!" LOL.

Either way though, Sun, I totally see where you are coming from with this quoting of terrible journalism. However, this student reporter did a great job balancing both the good and the bad. It's a sad day when a student reporter does a better job than CBS news. But hey, maybe there is some journalistic integrity on its way to the "real world". There is hope for journalism yet!