Latest issue of Consumer Reports

[seminolewind]

I am so angry about their article about E-cigs, seems their information is about 4 years old, and the rumors of containing toxic chemicals such as antifreeze and formaldehyde were found. Of course never updated with the truth.

I wrote a rebuttal to their article and sent it to ConsumerReports.org/lettertoeditor but it keeps coming back. I'm still looking for the right address.

I also included the CASAA website.
The article is under Health in the March 2014 issue.
If you have time, please email them and address the mistakes in their article.

 

[bruiser]

I gave up on CR years ago.

 

[Kryyptyk]

I gave up on CR years ago.

This. They can't seem to get their facts straight about anything.

 

[seminolewind]

This is my rebuttal I sent. I hope it's correct. I know it's more correct than they are. I only addressed the issues they stated.


Dear Editor,
I've always relied on your magazine for being truthful. Until now. Your information about e-cigarettes is 4 years old and the FDA never corrected their hasty false statements published at that time.
Are they safe? The FDA stated that it detected diethylene glycol (toxic chemical in antifreeze). Wrong. They found Propylene Glycol which is the non-toxic ingredient in antifreeze. Proplylene glycol is also found in shampoos and cremes, and many health related items and food. It is not a toxic substance.
The nitrosamines are barely detected in e-cigarettes, not any more than anti-smoking gum, lozenges, and patches. Formaldehyde is one of the 400 or so toxic substances found in tobacco. In e-cigarettes, it has not been proven.
The flavorings used in e-cigarettes are the same flavorings used in food, children's medications, and alcohol. Adults enjoy the same flavors as children do. Targeting children is a false accusation.
Toxic cancer causing tobacco continues to be sold legally. The Government's profit is upward of 36 billion dollars per year on the sale of cigarettes and not likely to be reduced by banning tobacco
All e-liquid used to come from China. Currently, most e-liquid is manufactured in the U.S. which provides better control of the ingredients found in them.
"Sales grew from about $500 million in 2012 to an estimated $1.5 billion in 2013" . Has sales of gum, lozenges or patches grown that fast? No.
You can find the most current non biased information concerning e-cigs (now called Personal Vaporizors) at casaa.org . CASAA was created to provide the public with facts about personal vaporizors (e-cigarettes).

 

[swhite]

Great response! Hope you find a way to get it to them. Let us know if you do and get a response.

 

[AgentAnia]

....Are they safe? The FDA stated that it detected diethylene glycol (toxic chemical in antifreeze). Wrong. They found Propylene Glycol which is the non-toxic ingredient in antifreeze. Proplylene glycol is also found in shampoos and cremes, and many health related items and food. It is not a toxic substance.

Excellent letter. Just one item: FDA actually did find DEG in one cartridge tested back in 2009 or 2010. As best I recall the details, it was a trace amount that if ingested would not have been dangerous; it was found in only one cart out of 18 tested; the manufacturer who had made it (SmokeEverywhere I believe) has since gone out of business; it was subsequently attributed to a contaminated container at the plant; and it (DEG) has never been found in any cart or e-liquid tested since.

Unfortunately, the FDA has not since corrected the webpage this information appears on, so anyone looking for FDA information on ecigs will still read this erroneous data and assume it's current. One has to wonder *why* FDA has not made this correction. I have to assume it's because the FDA *wants* this dangerous-sounding fearmongering data in circulation.

 

[rothenbj]

Excellent letter. Just one item: FDA actually did find DEG in one cartridge tested back in 2009 or 2010. As best I recall the details, it was a trace amount that if ingested would not have been dangerous; it was found in only one cart out of 18 tested; the manufacturer who had made it (SmokeEverywhere I believe) has since gone out of business; it was subsequently attributed to a contaminated container at the plant; and it (DEG) has never been found in any cart or e-liquid tested since.

Unfortunately, the FDA has not since corrected the webpage this information appears on, so anyone looking for FDA information on ecigs will still read this erroneous data and assume it's current. One has to wonder *why* FDA has not made this correction. I have to assume it's because the FDA *wants* this dangerous-sounding fearmongering data in circulation.

Not so far out of business that Prue didn't have a cartridge laying around to test.

 

[AgentAnia]

Not so far out of business that Prue didn't have a cartridge laying around to test.

Very true! I have to assume PruBot's carto was at least several years old, and that (probably to her displeasure) she eagerly tested it for DEG and found none (or she'd be shouting it from the rooftops).

 

[JBal4]

It would be nice if there were more studies done to definitively tell them off. but till then all you can do is puff on and laugh

 

[StarsAndBars]

This is my rebuttal I sent. I hope it's correct. I know it's more correct than they are. I only addressed the issues they stated.


Dear Editor,
I've always relied on your magazine for being truthful. Until now. Your information about e-cigarettes is 4 years old and the FDA never corrected their hasty false statements published at that time.
Are they safe? The FDA stated that it detected diethylene glycol (toxic chemical in antifreeze). Wrong. They found Propylene Glycol which is the non-toxic ingredient in antifreeze. Proplylene glycol is also found in shampoos and cremes, and many health related items and food. It is not a toxic substance.
The nitrosamines are barely detected in e-cigarettes, not any more than anti-smoking gum, lozenges, and patches. Formaldehyde is one of the 400 or so toxic substances found in tobacco. In e-cigarettes, it has not been proven.
The flavorings used in e-cigarettes are the same flavorings used in food, children's medications, and alcohol. Adults enjoy the same flavors as children do. Targeting children is a false accusation.
Toxic cancer causing tobacco continues to be sold legally. The Government's profit is upward of 36 billion dollars per year on the sale of cigarettes and not likely to be reduced by banning tobacco
All e-liquid used to come from China. Currently, most e-liquid is manufactured in the U.S. which provides better control of the ingredients found in them.
"Sales grew from about $500 million in 2012 to an estimated $1.5 billion in 2013" . Has sales of gum, lozenges or patches grown that fast? No.
You can find the most current non biased information concerning e-cigs (now called Personal Vaporizors) at casaa.org . CASAA was created to provide the public with facts about personal vaporizors (e-cigarettes).

Freaking well done.

 

[Jugband]

Great job! Love to see people take action!

 

[sonicdsl]

It would be nice if there were more studies done to definitively tell them off. but till then all you can do is puff on and laugh

Good stuff reviewing 100's of studies here, findings were in our favor!

http://publichealth.drexel.edu/~/media/files/publichealth/ms08.pdf

 

[Skruf]

I just read the latest copy (March 2014) on my ipad, and I was plenty ....... I expected better reporting from CU.