Thanks for posting Jim.
I largely agree with Mike Siegel about e-cigarettes (and most other scientific issues).
NJ Senator Bob Gordon's statement about e-cigarettes is absurd and irresponsible, and I doubt that his office issued that press release. Rather, it appears the press release was issued by an e-cigarette advocate to expose Gordon's irresponsible grandstanding.
Following is the letter I sent Senator Gordon last month (he hasn't responded).
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Godshall
To: Robert Gordon
Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 2009 5:24 PM
Subject: Oppose e-cigarette usage ban, support no sales to minors
Dear Senator Gordon:
To improve public health, Smokefree Pennsylvania urges you to SUPPORT S-3504 (to ban sales of electronic cigarettes to minors under 19) and to REJECT S-3503 (to ban adult use of electronic cigarettes in ALL indoor workplaces).
As you may be aware, about 100,000 smokers in the US have quit smoking by switching to smokefree nicotine inhalers (commonly called electronic cigarettes) during the past several years. Electronic cigarettes (aka e-cigarettes) look like a real cigarette, but emit NO hazardous tobacco smoke, and pose NO risks to nonusers. E-cigarettes emit a tiny amount of nicotine to users, and emit a tiny amount of propylene glycol vapor (commonly used in theatrical fog, asthma inhalers and thousands of air sanitizing products). The inhalation of propylene glycol has been extensively studies for many decades, and poses no health risks at the tiny levels emitted by e-cigarettes.
Unfortunately for public health and common
sense, S-3503 inaccurately redefines "smoking" as including the use of smokefree e-cigarettes in order to ban the use of these lifesaving products in all workplaces in NJ (including in the privacy of one's office, work station, etc.). While Smokefree Pennsylvania has advocated smokefree workplace laws for more than 20 years (because tobacco smoke pollution poses a health hazard to people and property), we urge you to REJECT S-3503 because it improperly defines the usage of smokefree products as "smoking", unfairly discriminates against e-cigarette users who have recently quit smoking, would force e-cigarette users outside into smoking areas to obtain smokefree nicotine, and would discourage hundreds of thousands of smokers from quitting and/or reducing cigarette consumption by switching to e-cigarettes.
Proponents of S-3503 have grossly and intentionally misrepresented the health risks of e-cigarettes in order to scare legislators into voting for this unwarranted legislation that threatens (instead of improves) public health. Smokers who have recently quit and/or are trying to quit need support, not harassment and ostracism.
We also urge you SUPPORT S-3504 (that would prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to minors under 19 years) because it is a reasonable and responsible public health meausure. Although there is no evidence that e-cigarettes have been marketed to youth (as some proponents of S-3504 have falsely claimed), enactment of this legislation would help prevent future sales of these products to minors (similar to laws that prohibit tobacco sales to minors).
Thank you for your consideration, and feel free to contact me any time for additional information or assistance.
William T. Godshall, MPH
Executive Director
Smokefree Pennsylvania
1926 Monongahela Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15218
412-351-5880
FAX 351-5881
smokefree@compuserve.com
Now c'mon folks, Read it and Digg it.
