I don't know what Ms. Hughes was looking at when she saw "white swirl that drifts off the tip of an e-cigarette," but it definitely wasn't any device that I've ever seen. Either that, or the person using it had mistakenly lit the ecig and the white swirl was in fact melting plastic?
"...they come in flavors that appeal to a young palate, such as bubblegum and cola." Evidently it is necessary to point out to readers that adults like flavors too. Otherwise, adults would be consuming wheat grass and plain tofu, while "young palates" were enjoying bubblegum and cola.
"...since the manufacturers are largely
tobacco companies themselves..." This is incorrect. E-cigarettes are the invention of a private citizen and are manufactured primarily by independent dedicated companies.
tobacco companies have only lately entered the market, as they see their profits from traditional
tobacco products falling. While they may enjoy a larger market share at present, they are falling behind the independent manufacturers, who have moved on to 2nd and 3rd generation devices.
The FDA study the writer refers to is old, its methodology has been called into question, and mainstream scientists have declared it to be fatally flawed. The only question remaining about it is why the FDA has not seen fit to retract it.
I would suggest, as alternate resources, that readers check out casaa-dot-org and ecigarette-research dot com for current, factual information on e-cigarettes and the health and societal issues surrounding them.
