1,000+ Comments on DOT E-Cig Ban Needed by November 14

[mooreted]

No, you're free to your opinions.

You would have to work at it and purposely try to light something on fire.

Just think about the slow decline of our personal freedoms in the US. If we don't speak up we will be silenced.

At any rate, you have to vote to your own conscious. I would never condemn you for following your own values.

 

[mylose64]

I wish you all good luck.

 

[Placebo Effect]

I wish you all good luck.

You too. If you haven't already, I hope you'll leave a comment that is at least in opposition to the $2,300 - $3,200 fine.

 

[JChamp]

Done! and no FF problems here.

To whom it may concern,

As you know many are distressed about this issue of late. I felt compelled to write of my experiences and opinions in hopes that the debate will take a turn for the intellectually honest.

I believe the reason for legislation such as this stems from an unfortunate misinterpretation of terms. Equating cigarettes and electronic vapor producing products is disingenuous at best. Dictionary.com defines cigarettes as "a cylindrical roll of finely cut tobacco cured for smoking, .. and usually wrapped in thin white paper". Electronic vapor devices are nothing of the kind. They contain no tobacco, use no fire as a catalyst and carry none of the carcinogens normally associated with smoking. They merely vaporize liquid and no report, to my knowledge, link them to any real health hazards for either users or those in close proximity to persons utilizing them unlike their unhealthy organic "cousins".

As an electronic vapor producing product user for over a year, I should report that because of my use of these products, I have been able to eliminate a 30+ year habit of smoking regular cigarettes. My health has improved immeasurably. My physician has reported that my lung capacity is now that of a 55 year old (I'm 48) having only a year ago reported that of a 67yo. To say nothing of the increased sense of smell, taste and energy level. I should point out that not once has anyone exposed to my use of these products complained of my use of them. Anecdotal to be sure, but I assure you there is near consensus among my peers.

In summary, I believe that it is the governments duty to accurately frame debates. And, here, as a represented citizen, I am formally asking that you do just that.

I ask that my government reject such incorrect comparisons, sponsor tests on products that are in question, and write appropriate rules and regulations that do not inhibit freedoms, but rather, protect the rights of the individuals you have been entrusted to govern. Thank You.

[full name here]

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I also signed the petition mentioned earlier

 

[Placebo Effect]

Excellent eSC.

I got a pleasant surprise this morning. A NYU Law School class apparently assigned students the task of writing and submitting public comments. 15 went up this morning, and the vast majority are negative on the regulation!

610 comments

Can we get 90 more?

 

[Treece]

Glad to hear about the law students, and I certainly hope we can get 90 more comments before the rapidly approaching deadline....

 

[txtumbleweed]

Come on members at least object to the fine even if you don't vape on airlines. I have been stealth vaping on planes for two years and have never been spoken to about it. I vape fairly open in the airports I just don't flaunt it.

 

[Placebo Effect]

Only a couple days left!

 

[plarkinjr]

The following comment was sent by me via FFox 7.0.1:

As a natural born patriotic United States citizen, I am writing to request you NOT ban so-called "electronic cigarettes" or "e-cigarettes". These are actually personal vaporizers in that no combustion of any substance takes place. The device merely vaporizes a fluid, creating mostly water vapor with (sometimes) a bit of flavoring and a very small amount of nicotine. Because of this, use of so called "electronic cigarettes" is not "smoking".

The DOT has only been granted the authority to regulate "smoking". Therefore this proposal is contrary to federal law.

Even if the regulation were adopted, it is unenforceable because e-cigarette users leave behind no evidence (ash, cigarette ...., etc.) of their use. Moreover, e-cigarette users can have an e-cigarette in their mouth without using it.

And finally, the DOT has failed to cite any evidence that e-cigarettes pose any threat to bystanders or aircraft equipment.

For these reasons, and many more, this proposed regulation to ban the use of so-called "electronic cigarettes" should NOT be enacted.


Your Comment Tracking Number: 80f6afce

 

[plarkinjr]

I know there are probably many other ways to do this on a plane, but electronic cigarettes can also light paper on fire. I lit a cigarette off an atomizer once (ironic huh?)

Yeah, Yeah, I know, I'm pushing it.

Would be far easier to use the cigarette lighter they allowed you to carry-on.

 

[Placebo Effect]

Saturday bump

If this garbage doesn't motivate you to post a comment, I don't know what will.

DOT should prohibit use of e-cigs on airplanes (our public comment) | Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education

 

[mooreted]

And I posted a comment on that site too. They are probably to chicken to approve my comments.


E‐cigarettes.and.Smoke‐free.Policies..
.
What.are.E‐cigarettes.and.what.do.they.contain?.
.
E‐cigarettes.are.battery.operated.devices.that.vaporize.a.liquid.solution.consisting.of.89‐90%.propylene.
glycol,.water,.flavoring,.and.a.small.amount.of.nicotine..(Laugesen,.2008)..

Testing.by.the.FDA.found.tobacco.specific.nitrosamines.and.tobacco.specific.impurities.“at.very.low.
levels”.in.the.unvaporized.liquid..(USFDA.2009)...

FDA‐approved.nicotine.products.contain.tobacco.specific.nitrosamines.equivalent.to.the.quantity.found.in.
an.e‐cigarette.cartridge..(Laugesen,.2008).

FDA.testing.detected.diethylene.glycol.(DEG).at.1%.(approximately.0.01.g).in.one.of.18.cartridges.tested..
(USFDA.2009)..

The.major.hazard.from.DEG.occurs.following.the.ingestion.of.relatively.large.single.doses..The.estimated.
lethal.dose.of.DEG.for.humans.is.approximately.1.ml/kg..(Health.Canada,.2010).

Multiple.companies.have.had.their.products.tested.for.diethylene.glycol.and.none.of.the.samples.have.
turned.up.positive..(Siegel,.2011).

A.puff.of.e‐cigarette.mist.delivers.only.10%.of.the.nicotine.delivered.by.a.similar.puff.of.smoke.from.a.
conventional.cigarette..(Laugesen,.2009).(Bullen,.2010).

E‐cigarette.use.mimics.smoking;.but,.there.is.no.combustion.and.the.user.inhales.vapor,.not.smoke..(Cahn.
and.Siegel,.2010).

Do.E‐cigarettes.give.off.secondhand.smoke?..

The.e‐cigarette.generates.no.side‐stream.smoke.from.its.artificially.lit.tip..(Laugesen,.2008)..

After.the.user.inhales,.the.residual.aerosol,.or.vapor,.is.exhaled.into.the.surrounding.air..(Trtchounian,.Williams,.&.Talbot,.2010)..

The.exhaled.vapor.of.the.e‐cigarette.is.composed.of.propylene.glycol,.and.contains.almost.no.nicotine;.
and.no.carbon.monoxide..(Laugesen,.2008).

Is.secondhand.vapor.from.e‐cigarettes.harmful?..

E‐cigarette.vapor.was.tested.for.over.50.cigarette.smoke.toxicants.and.none.were.found..(Laugesen.2009).

“Lacking.any.active.ingredient.or.any.gaseous.products.of.combustion,.the.PG.mist.or.‘smoke’.is.not.
harmful.to.bystanders.”.(Laugesen,.2008).

Are.there.other.concerns.about.the.use.of.e‐cigarettes?..

They.are.proving.acceptable.as.a.complete.replacement.for.smoking.for.up.to.79%.of.consumers..
(Heavner,.Dunworth,.Bergen,.Nissen,.&.Phillips,.2008)..

Over.90%.of.users.report.that.their.health.has.improved..(Heavner,.Dunworth,.Bergen,.Nissen,.&.Phillips,.
2008).

How.is.the.U.S..government.responding.to.the.so‐called.risks.involved.with.e‐cigarettes?..

The.Hon..Judge.Richard.J..Leon.of.the.U.S..District.Court.for.the.District.of.Columbia.granted.an.injunction.against.FDA.seizures.of.e‐cigarette.imports..(Leon,.2010).

Judge.Leon.stated.that.the.FDA.has.failed.to.produce.any.evidence.that.the.products.have.harmed.
anyone..

The.District.Court.and.the.U.S..District.Court.of.Appeals.stated.that.the.FDA.may.regulate.e‐cigarettes.
under.the.Family.Smoking.Prevention.and.Tobacco.Control.Act,.but.not.as.drugs.or.devices.under.the.
Food,.Drug,.and.Cosmetics.Act..(Garland,.Kavanaugh.&.Williams,.2010).

What.are.the.recommendations.regarding.e‐cigarettes.and.smoke‐free.policies?..

The.Consumer.Advocates.for.Smoke‐free.Alternatives.Association.strongly.opposes.including.e‐cigarettes.
in.smoking.bans...

Allowing.indoor.use.provides.smokers.with.a.powerful.incentive.to.switch.to.a.reduced.harm.alternative.
to.smoking..(CASAA,.2010).
.
For.more.information,.contact.the.Consumer.Advocates.for.Smoke-free.Alternatives.Association,.CASAA | The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association.

E‐cigarettes.and.Smoke‐free.Policies..
.
Bullen,.C.,.McRobbie,.H.,.Thornley,.S.,.Glover,.M.,.Lin,.R.,.&.Laugesen,.M..(2010)..Effect.of.an.electronic.nicotine.delivery.device.(e.cigarette).on.desire.to.smoke.and.withdrawal,.user.preferences.and.nicotine.delivery:.randomised.cross‐over.trial..Tobacco.Control..2010.Apr;19(2):98‐103..
Effect of an electronic nicotine delivery device... [Tob Control. 2010] - PubMed - NCBI..
.
Cahn,.Z.,.&.Siegel,.M..(2010)..Electronic.cigarettes.as.a.harm.reduction.strategy.for.tobacco.control:.A.step.forward.or.a.repeat.of.past.mistakes?..Journal.of.Public.Health.Policy.32:.16‐1..
http://www.palgrave‐journals.com/jphp/journal/v32/n1/full/jphp201041a.htmlf..
.
Consumer.Advocates.for.Smoke‐free.Alternatives.Association.(2011).CASAA.Position.Statement.on.Electronic.
Cigarettes..http://www.casaa.org/files/Casaa Position Statement.pdf..
.
Garland,.Kavanaugh,.&.Williams...United.States.Court.of.Appeals.for.the.District.of.Columbia.Circuit..Case:.10‐5032.Document:.1281606.Filed:.12/07/2010..
http://www.casaa.org/files/ct app opinion on injunction.pdf..
.
Health.Canada..(2010)..Diethylene.glycol;.classification.with.respect.to.acute.toxicity..Date.Modified:.2010‐09‐21..
http://www.hc‐sc.gc.ca/ewh‐semt/occup‐travail/whmis‐simdut/_substance/diethylene‐eng.php..
.
Heavner,.K.,.Dunworth,.J.,.Bergen,.P.,.Nissen.,C.,.&.Phillips,.CV..(2010).Electronic.cigarettes.(e‐cigarettes).as.potential.tobacco.harm.reduction.products:.Results.of.an.online.survey.of.e‐cigarette.users...Tobacco.Harm.Reduction.2010.Yearbook,.Chapter.19..
THR2010. (tobaccoharmreduction.org)..
.
Laugesen,.M..(2008)..Safety.Report.on.the.Ruyan®.e‐cigarette.Cartridge.and.Inhaled.Aerosol..Health.New.Zealand..
http://www.healthnz.co.nz/RuyanCartridgeReport30‐Oct‐08.pdf..
.
Laugesen,.M..(2009)..Ruyan®.E‐cigarette.Bench‐top.tests..Poster.5‐11.at.Society.for.Research.on.Nicotine.and.Tobacco.(SRNT).Dublin,.Updated.07.May,.2009..
http://www.healthnz.co.nz/DublinEcigBenchtopHandout.pdf..
.
Leon,.RJ..United.States.District.Court.for.the.District.of.Columbia..Order,.Civil.Case.No..09‐771.(RJL)..Filed.01/14/2010..
http://www.casaa.org/files/SE‐vs‐FDA‐Ruling.pdf..
.
Siegel,.M..Letter.to.Members.of.the.Health.Committee.of.the.New.York.State.Assembly.regarding.Assembly.Bill.A01468.(01/23/2011)...
http://www.casaa.org/files/MSietel‐NYA01468 letter.doc..
.
Trtchounian.A.,.Williams.M.,.&.Talbot,.P..(July.19,.2010).Conventional.and.electronic.cigarettes.(e‐ciagrettes).have.different.smoking.characteristics..Nicotine.&.Tobacco.Research.Advance.Access..Doi:10.1093/ntr/ntq114..
.
U.S..Food.and.Drug.Administration..(5/4//09)...Final.Report:..Evaluation.of.e‐cigarettes...
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/ScienceResearch/UCM173250.pdf..
.
For.more.information,.contact.the.Consumer.Advocates.for.Smoke‐free.Alternatives.Association,.CASAA | The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association.

 

[mooreted]

Wow, the forum really mangled it.

For anyone who wants to read it:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...IUjwOyiRVq6pEESjA&sig2=qTo7SG2xLOdFzolPUd5eSg

 

[Placebo Effect]

When did you submit it? They don't add comments on the weekend, and they usually take 24-48 hours to go up.

If it's been more than 5 days, I'd re-submit it.

 

[mooreted]

I just submitted it earlier today. I saw the warning, "You post will appear on the site after is has been approved." That gave me a bit of a sinking feeling, but maybe I'm just being paranoid.

I'll check in a few days and see if I got in. The post now shown on the site is pure drivel.

 

[Huffelpuff]

Done. Thanks for helping us to have a voice.

 

[Placebo Effect]

Come on people!

 

[mooreted]

Wow, still not there? Come on people, put down the PV for a second and sign this thing unless you want Uncle Sam to take it from you.

 

[94_FLSTN]

COME ON FOLKS! Only 610 entries at the time of this post. Monday is the last day. Let's get some signatures on this thing!

 

[Placebo Effect]

COME ON FOLKS! Only 610 entries at the time of this post. Monday is the last day. Let's get some signatures on this thing!

With Friday being Veteran's Day, the update in 8 hours or so should have 3 days worth of posts. Hopefully more than a few took the time this weekend.

I'd also expect the anti organizations to be posting a lot of comments, as I believe most advocacy groups tend to wait until the final day to submit a comment.

Please post a comment!