NPR: Officials Probe E-Cigarettes' Health Claims

[IntoxiNation]

by Debbie Elliott

Entrepreneurs are always trying to come up with new products for smokers: a nicotine lollipop or a bottle of Nico Water to give you that fix when you can't light up.

Those products didn't pass muster with the Food and Drug Administration. And now, the agency is taking a closer look at the latest trend: electronic cigarettes.

At the smoke-free Tyson's Corner shopping mall in McLean, Va., Clarence Chatman puffs away on what appears to be a lit cigarette; little white clouds billow from his nostrils.....

Read the rest of the article here: Officials Probe E-Cigarettes' Health Claims

 

[Lorddrek]

"I think there's a lot of possibilities; it's intriguing," says Thomas Glynn with the American Cancer Society. "But it needs to go through some rigorous testing before the public health community would feel comfortable with it."

Glynn says similar nicotine-only products haven't caught on, in part because smokers are so tied to the ritual of smoking. E-cigarettes could be different, Glynn says, if FDA-reviewed clinical studies show they are safe and effective.

"Any product that we ingest, we'd like to see go through the Food and Drug Administration," Glynn says. "I mean, we know more, to be honest, about what's in dog food and macaroni and cheese than we know what's in tobacco in this country. And there's no reason to introduce yet another product where we don't know what we're ingesting."

These are very legitimate concerns. Too bad the FDA has a history of failing the public and being heavily manipulated by lobbyist driven politicians. You can be sure whatever is determined will not be in our best interests.

Lorddrek

 

[TropicalBob]

They are indeed legitimate concerns, but I'm buoyed by the balance in this report and others we're starting to see. Finally, both sides are being presented. I surely agree that we cannot know pressures the FDA might be experiencing from outside interests, however, and the only thing I think is certain is that today's completely unregulated e-smoking practice will not continue to be allowed.

 

[Autoevo]

I have noticed an increasing amount of news stories on e-cigs, obviously because of there gain in popularity. At the end of all the articles that i have been viewing while surfing about the web, i see comments at the end of the articles. I have yet to come across any comments opposing the idea of e-smoking. I find it heartening to see so many supporters of this alternative to smoking tobacco. I try to make it a point to add my comments at the end of these articles in hopes that the general pubilic will see that there is a product that can be a healthier alternative and possibly even suggest e-cigs to someone they care for.

Thank you to those who have put your two cents in on these e-cig articles and signed the petition. With enough voices we may actually get someone to hear us!

 

[Chevron07]

This doesn't appear balanced at all. It's all about the e-cig being used to avoid taxes and do an end run around ban's.

And there's no reason to introduce yet another product where we don't know what we're ingesting.

Really Mr. Glynn of the F'ing CANCER SOCIETY? You can't think of even ONE reason to introduce this product? Just another quite or die article.

 

[lachesis]

"Some people may mistakenly perceive these products to be safer alternatives to conventional tobacco use"
Well, Ms Chappelle needs to attend basic science class in nearby elementary schools then.

 

[Gearwork]

It's worded badly but I think the gist of that quote was that non-smokers would start vaping cause it's (percieved as) a safe alternative to smoking. Instead of smokers switching because it's (probably) a safeR alternative to smoking. That's a valid concern, but it's like denying a drowning man a life preserver because some people might go swimming with them.

As for the don't know what we are ingesting comment. We know a heck of a lot more of what we are ingesting/inhaling than any smoker knows. PG/VG, Nicotine, Water, and flavoring. I worry about the flavoring myself but not as much as I worry about whats in my cigarettes.

 

[green-lantern]

Well, compared to what we have been seeing lately this is a little more middle of the road. I do feel some of the reasons to use them where left out.

 

[Closet Toker]

The idea of reducing nicotine in tobacco products is wrong.
Can a Nicotine user have only a partial addiction? Of course not.
Tobacco and Nicotine use will be even higher than it is now. What a totally ridiculous theory.

Good news for Big Tobacco, and Federal taxes!

Our country’s Democracy is a mere illusion. We have two sets of political parties, owned by the same set of corporate lobbyists. Artificially placed in their positions by the corporations, projected by they're media in a system of coherent corruption.

.

 

[nitewriter]

In an advertisement, the maker of one e-cigarette, Smoking Everywhere, claims, "Fact: Smoking Everywhere electronic cigarette is the healthier way to smoke." That claim raises a red flag for government regulators.

I think S.E. should be boycotted for these claims. Suppliers that are making "healthier" claims are shooting us all in the foot! It's drawing unwanted attention on a daily basis.

It burns my beans every time!!!

 

[taukimada]

In an advertisement, the maker of one e-cigarette, Smoking Everywhere, claims, "Fact: Smoking Everywhere electronic cigarette is the healthier way to smoke." That claim raises a red flag for government regulators.

I think S.E. should be boycotted for these claims. Suppliers that are making "healthier" claims are shooting us all in the foot! It's drawing unwanted attention on a daily basis.

It burns my beans every time!!!

i dont necessarily see a problem with the word healthier.. but where that idiot company goes wrong is they perpetually do not QUALIFY the comment...

healthier way to smoke??? first off.. i didnt realize we were SMOKING... and second.. healthier than WHAT exactly??

its the un qualified off the cuff remarks that are going to get us in trouble mostly.. id feel alot better if that statement was

"Fact: Using Smoke Everywhere electronic cigarette is a healthiER alternative to smoking cigarettes"

so few changes to make such a tremendous difference.. sad really..

and im with nite... we need to get the word out publicly that smoke everywhere does NOT represent vapers everywhere

 

[Npro_Silver]

Hey i was wondering if any of you people ever thought about the vapor in you lungs. Does it acumulate making water in your lungs cause if so you could easyli die of dry drowning such as water in your lungs.Let me know what you think

thanks

 

[Skad]

I think S.E. should be boycotted for these claims. Suppliers that are making "healthier" claims are shooting us all in the foot! It's drawing unwanted attention on a daily basis.

The problem with that is, most of the folks who would know enough to consider boycotting them wouldn't buy S.E. in the first place.

 

[Kate]

Here's a discussion about making health claims - http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ing/12317-how-valid-vaping-health-claims.html

It doesn't seem like a good idea until we can be sure it's true. It gives people rose tinted spectacles or makes them want to rip the argument apart (which they could).

Best not to state opinion as fact.

 

[Wally]

To put the issue of health claims in some perspective, I bought a bottle of Whole Foods-brand echinacea the other day. This is a house brand from a large, established U.S. retailer. The label reads "Whole Foods Echinacea, Powerful Immune Protection*." The asterik refers the reader to a footnote on the side of the bottle that reads: "This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." I assume that a company like Whole Foods has run this by their lawyers (probably had them write the line) and that e-cig manufacturers and retailers should adhere to similar procedures. The elimination of health claims for e-cigs would probably go a long way towards defusing the FDA effort.

Wally

P.S. Incidentally, God knows what's in these capsules. They stink.

 

[StratOvation]

Hey i was wondering if any of you people ever thought about the vapor in you lungs. Does it acumulate making water in your lungs cause if so you could easyli die of dry drowning such as water in your lungs.Let me know what you think

thanks

Hi Silver and welcome,

I believe someone ( probably Kate ) had posted a link to a study done in a childrens home where the kids were exposed to PG vapor for an extended period of time with no negative health effects noticed.

Mike

 

[paulhampson]

Iis it possible to prove something is empirically safe? How long do you need to monitor the subjects 1 month, 10 years, what?

 

[tokrjokr]

Hello. I am new to this forum and new to ecigs. I just got my first one about 4 days ago and have been able to cut my 2-pack-a-day habit down to less than a pack and this is a HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT for me! I just signed the petition on here and hope all will do the same! It just figures that the FDA will take this away from us as soon as they can one way or another....just when I've finally found something that is working for me to break my tobbaco habit!

 

[lec666]

bravo taukimada.... indeed our pv's should not be by any means associated
with the term smoking or cigarettes as it is neither. i was at a local mall and
the woman running the kiosk was defiantly puffing away on her e-cig with
large banners reading SMOKING E********E,healthy alternative...etc.
she obviously was never even a smoker as she didn't even know how to
hold a 10MM. it's no wonder local government is getting concerned. you can't
make unproven claims when selling a product...especially health claims.
talk about giving the wrong impression to passerbys. i laid into her telling
her she was giving pv's a bad rep,not to mention her prices cost no
different than using analogs. the models she had were triple internet cost,
and carts were $10 each???? seriously....claiming one 10mm cart equaled a
pack of analogs? i replied yeah at that price...i lol'd so hard at her for that claim.

there is no doubt in my mind that this company is just trying to take
advantage of the general public who is in search of an alternative to
support their habit during a time of high taxes and worldwide recession.
their marketing strategy is the only way they will be able make sales.
unfortunately their strategy is drawing attention to themselves,all the
other companies and the general public.

their claims are gonna come back to bite us all in the .... in the end
it only takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch........

for paulhampson:
i believe here in the states the FDA wants 7 years of testing before
a given product is even considered for safe approval.

 

[tokrjokr]

Your use of the term "you people" makes me wonder what the hell you're doing here??? You obviously do not use ecigs..so why are you here?????to persecute someone who is trying to quit smoking???what?