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!
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.
