FOIA Request: Bullitt County, Kentucky

[Placebo Effect]

Background: Each state has its own version of the federal Freedom of Information Act. In Kentucky, this is known as the Open Records Act. The Open Records Act permits requests for e-mails from a particular division of a local government.

Earlier this year, Bullitt County, KY Board of Health passed a smoke-free ordinance that included electronic cigarettes -- Inclusion of E-cigarette in smoking ban has some users feeling b - WAVE 3 News - Louisville, Kentucky

As such, I decided to file a request for e-mails sent to or received by several Health Department employees between 01/01/2011 and 4/15/2011 that relate to, touch upon, or concern regulation or the use of electronic cigarettes.

That information is attached. View attachment BullittCounty.pdf

 

[Placebo Effect]

Page 26 -- From the Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy Community Partner Newsletter -- February 25, 2011

Smoke-free Research Updates

Calm, 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 (12) 1-16.

The authors conclude that e-cigarettes may be a harm reduction product that helps smokers quit (although further testing is needed). The authors claim that the contents of e-cigarettes do not contain the multitude of cancer causing agents found in traditional cigarettes; e-cigarettes do not combust unlike a traditional cigarette; and they may curb nicotine cravings. The reader should use caution in interpreting the findings due to a small sample size.

One thing that the authors fail to acknowledge is that e-cigarettes contain carcinogenic chemicals; among them, propylene glycol (and formaldehyde), which is used in theatre production to make smoke. Side effects of e-cigarettes include: sore throats, dizziness, running pulse, mouth ulcers and slurred speech. The replaceable cartridges are often poorly labeled; the contents can often leak out; and the level of nicotine within the cartridges is not standardized.

Although the smoker may get their nicotine fix, there is no evidence that what they are inhaling or exhaling is safe for them or for those around them. E-cigarettes are not approved by the FDA as a nicotine delivery device or a tobacco product; nor are they endorsed by the World Health Organization, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association or the American Lung Association. Some call for e-cigarettes to be removed from the market until there is adequate testing for safety and efficacy.

 

[JustJulie]

Extraordinarily interesting reading . . . especially p. 24:

Calm, z., & Siegel, M. (20l0). Electronic Cigarettes as a Harm Reduction Strategy for Tobacco Control: A Step Forward or a Repeat of Past Mistakes? Journal of Public Health Policy 02} 1-16.

The authors conclude that e-cigarettes may be a harm reduction product that helps smokers quit
(although further testing is needed). The authors claim that the contents of e-cigarettes do not
contain the multitude of cancer causing agents found in traditional cigarettes; e-cigarettes do not
combust unlike a traditional cigarette; and they may curb nicotine cravings. The reader should use
caution in interpreting the findings due to a small sample size.

One thing that the authors fail to acknowledge is that e-cigarettes contain carcinogenic chemicals;
among them, propylene glycol (and formaldehyde), which is used in theatre production to make
smoke. Side effects of e-cigarettes include: sore throats, dizziness, running pulse, mouth ulcers and
slurred speech. The replaceable cartridges are often poorly labeled; the contents can often leak out;
and the level of nicotine within the cartridges is not standardized.
Although the smoker may get their nicotine fix, there is no evidence that what they are inhaling or
exhaling is safe for them or for those around them. E-cigarettes are not approved by the FDA as a
nicotine delivery device or a tobacco product; nor are they endorsed by the World Health
Organization, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association or the American Lung
Association. Some call for e-cigarettes to be removed from the market until there is adequate
testing for safety and efficacy.
For further reading, please click on the links below:
http://www.prlog.org/l 0942504-cigarettes-ballned-on-domestic-flights-repolis-ash.html
http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/colltelltlearly/2010/l 0/22/tc.20 1 0.037259 .full

Kind of scary how misinformed they are . . . propylene glycol a carcinogen?

Thanks for doing this. I think it's helpful to find out how those who oppose e-cigarettes are spinning the truth in order to achieve their agenda.

 

[Placebo Effect]

Good minds obviously think alike Julie.

Surprisingly, the Kentucky State Tobacco Prevention Listserv actually included a fair summary of Dr. Siegel's quitting rate study from a few months ago in an update that is included.

Another interesting bit -- from page 52

From: Brown, Cyntllia G (LHD-Bullitt Co) [mailto:CyntlliaG,Brown@ky,gov]
Sent: Friday, April 08, 2011 10:51 AM
To: Patty Gregory
Subject: RE: Longest Day of Play

Yesterday evening-Boy did I hate that! I truly dislike being on camera-- still or video!!!

Question was why did we include e-cigs. Bottom line is we don't know about the dangers of e-cigs. We don't know how much nicotine the smoker is getting, we don't know how much the smoker exhales. We do know the nicotine is one of the particulates found in secondhand smoke that is harmful to the health of the smoker and those around them.

And the rights issue. We are not taking away anyone's right we are just putting boundaries on a behavior that is known to be harmful to others. He kept saying that we are taking rights away...until I said okay you have a right to drive on any side of the road you want? No we have boundaries for you to drive.

Federal suit filed this week---but feel sure that it will be kicked back down to the state.

Cynthia G. Brown

Health Education Coordinator

 

[JustJulie]

lol. Looks like you were editing and I was posting at the same time.