QUICKIE: Help Law Firm w/ So Called Research

[Sparky400]

This is a quick call to action that shouldn't take much time to do if you want to:

A law firm called Shepherd, Finkelman, Miller & Shah, LLP (SFMS) is conducting some "research."

I just noticed SFMS has been advertising the following link using Google:

Investigation of False Marketing of E-Cigarettes

In their ad they claim:

SFMS Law is investigating the marketing practices behind E Cigarettes and their potential harm to consumers.

and also the following drivel that has been objectively debunked numerous times as being inaccurate and misleading:

on July 22, 2009, the Food and Drug Administration announced results from a laboratory analysis of E Cigarettes that found that they contain harmful carcinogens (including nitrosamines), and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol (an ingredient commonly found in antifreeze).

I think folks from the e-cig forum should help them out with their "research" as I just did by going to this link and submitting your personal positive experience with electronic cigarettes and implore them to NOT spread the details of the FDA 2009 study unless they put it into context.

I urge anyone who reads this to take swift and immediate action before we start seeing cheesy late-night and day-time TV commercials for lawyers barking up the e-cig tree.

SFMS is way behind the curve if they are posting old FDA news from 2009 and didn't read Judge Leon's 2010 court order instructing the FDA to release and stop detaining e-cig shipments and also his 32 page opinion paper released last week.

Are you with me?

 

[Vocalek]

Great idea Sparkey: Here is the message I left, along with all my contact information.

Rather than taking the FDA’s statements about e-cigarettes at face value, I did some research. Did you know that the cancer-causing chemicals that the FDA “red flagged” are present in the FDA’s own approved nicotine replacement products? I have also learned that the quantities are approximately equal – about 8 nanograms in a day’s supply of cartridge liquid, and 8 nanograms in a 4 mg. nicotine patch. I was also curious to know how this compares to the quantities in tobacco cigarettes. I learned that tobacco cigarettes deliver from 6,600 to 11,000 nanograms per day. So which one sounds more likely to cause cancer? The diethylene glycol was present at such a small quantity that a 150-pound user would need to vaporize nearly two gallons of liquid in a single day to reach the minimally toxic level of 1 mg/kg.

Thousands of former smokers, as you should know by now, have managed to set aside their tobacco cigarettes by switching to e-cigarettes as an alternative. I smoked for 45 years and was unable to give it up because tobacco cigarettes were the best source of sufficient nicotine to control my Attention Deficit Disorder. Thanks to this product, I have been smoke-free since March 27, 2009.

Tobacco smoke does its damage by subjecting the lungs to tar, particles of tobacco and paper ash, carbon monoxide, hundreds of carcinogens (as opposed to the 4 found by FDA), and thousands of toxins. Thanks to replacing all of these harmful substances with propylene glycol vapor, those of us who have switched are seeing tremendous improvements in our lung health, as well as measures of heart health.

I’m an excellent example. My wheezing and morning cough have disappeared. Before, I was “prehypertensive.” Now my BP is 177/79. My story is typical.

Let me know when your firm is willing to bring a class action against the FDA for misfeasance and malfeasance. Their "spin job" on the test results has caused irreparable harm. How many smokers were frightened into continued use of their cancer sticks instead of trying this much less harmful alternative? How many cases of cancer, lung disease, heart attacks and strokes might have been avoided if the FDA had any honest people in leadership positions?

 

[420GypsyGirl]

VocalEK you should be a lawyer! LOL! That was awesome.

 

[River]

After reading that front page something tells me they are not quite looking for our glowing testimonials.

I left my positive comments but to be honest I think a more effective strategy would be to repeatedly drive an ambulance past the offices to keep em distracted.

 

[Lab]

the fda should edit this statement (an ingredient commonly found in antifreeze) to a ingredient commonly found in children's tylonal

i sent them this

The problem is that I quit smoking cigarettes after the tobacco companies enticed me to smoke when I was 14 that was one cool camel back then, They had me smoking for 15 years.

I read all about this deadly glycerin being in the e-cigs. and was shocked that they would use an ingredient used in anti-freeze.. it upset me a bit.. but no where near as much as when I realized that my own mother had been forcing me to swallow this when I was only 2 yrs old those tricky people that made childrens tylonal must of payed off the fda to get that past them.

can i sue them even willy wonka got one over on me and put that stuff into my body what is going on with this world..


I forgot to ask if they would sue whoever came up with the toaster for not warning me of the carcinogens in my toast

 

[maureengill]

the fda should edit this statement (an ingredient commonly found in antifreeze) to a ingredient commonly found in children's tylonal

I would have considered that a good option...except for the tylenol recall that just happened...might not be a good time to use that line...

Maureen

 

[Lab]

lol.. its in motrin too..

 

[BardicDruid]

Hasn't anyone noticed that diethylene glycol is only in the NON-TOXIC anitfreeze.

 

[Sparky400]

VocalEK you should be a lawyer! LOL! That was awesome.

I agree! That is awesome!

In my submission I also suggested they are on the wrong side and should be representing the people in a case against the FDA and a e-cig businesses against the that lost big $$$ in the FDA's detainment even though it may be futile since the FDA is "sovereign."

I'm going to look-up misfeasance and malfeasance right now..

 

[JustJulie]

I left my positive comments but to be honest I think a more effective strategy would be to repeatedly drive an ambulance past the offices to keep em distracted.

Thanks for my chuckle of the day.

Vocalek, great comments. You are one of our most articulate advocates.

 

[Vocalek]

As we speak up and leave our comments, it is important to learn the facts and report them accurately.

Propylene Glycol (PG) -

Used in the non-toxic version of anti-freeze, but is widely used as an additive in foods, medicines, inhalers, etc. It is also used to generate artificial fog in dance clubs, theatre productions, and concernts. It is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). There is a long list of its uses here under "Applications" Propylene glycol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Note that GRAS does not necessarily mean "perfectly harmless." Some people are allergic to PG. If those folks continue using e-cigarettes, they usually switch to liquid that uses vegetable glycerin (VG) as the base instead of PG.

Diethylene Glycol (DEG) -

It was DEG, not PG, that the FDA named as "an ingredient used in antifreeze." This is a toxic substance.

DEG is used as a humectant in tobacco. The nicotine in the cartridges tested by FDA is extracted from tobacco, which explains how a trace of DEG might show up. We probably should ask for manufacturers to test for DEG and make sure that it isn't in our liquid.

Nevertheless, the saying goes "the dose makes the poison". I calculated that a 150 e-cigarette user would need to vaporize nearly 2 gallons of liquid to reach the minimum toxic level of 1 ml per kilogram of body weight.

I would think that the nicotine overdose would kill him before he could get sick from the DEG, wouldn't you?

 

[Vocalek]

Addendum: Here is why the presence of DEG upset the FDA so much:

‘The government warned consumers on Friday to avoid using toothpaste made in China because it may contain a poisonous chemical used in antifreeze. Out of caution, the Food and Drug Administration said, people should throw away toothpaste with labeling that says it was made in China. The FDA is concerned that these products may contain diethylene glycol (DEG).

The syrupy poison, diethylene glycol, is an indispensable part of the modern world, an industrial solvent and prime ingredient in some antifreeze. It is also a killer. And the deaths, if not intentional, are often no accident.

Over the years, the poison has been loaded into all varieties of medicine — cough syrup, fever medication, injectable drugs — a result of counterfeiters who profit by substituting the sweet-tasting solvent for a safe, more expensive syrup, usually glycerin, commonly used in drugs, food, toothpaste and other products.’

Science Quick Picks Diethylene Glycol Found in Toothpastes: Which are the Risks?

 

[CJsKee]

I left a comment, also. I suggested the CASAA website as a good source for some of their "research".

 

[vapordraggin101]

I quit smoking after 45 yrs because of these ecigs and I think you'll find I'm not alone, these are the best thing ever for a smoker who wants to quit, I quit 3 months ago and will never go back to those nasty analogs.......I've hepled at least 6 people so far get off analogs.

Stand up and do something good for people instead of always siding with the FDA and for the money. Do some research and you will find the truth about Ecigs and why the FDA is opposing these...duh it might be the money.......

Please send me a Form so i can be a witness for the Ecig.
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This sent with alot of research links.

I sent this threw the form to contact them for a suit so they might read it.....

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I think people should flood their email with testimonies.

 

[Sparky400]

Thanks all for your efforts and comments. I would be interested to know if they even had 1 person respond with an actual "problem."

 

[JamieJ]

vocalek thank you so much for the information. Should we be worried about eliquids from china?

 

[Vocalek]

vocalek thank you so much for the information. Should we be worried about eliquids from china?

So far, so good. We haven't heard reports of anyone getting sick from contaminated e-liquid.

But it probably would be a good idea for consumers to start insisting that the vendors they purchase from have either conducted testing themselves or verified that their supplier does testing.

See this: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/health-safety-e-smoking/65005-letter-dekang-fda.html

 

[Jas4:14]

Great idea Sparkey: Here is the message I left, along with all my contact information.

>>>I’m an excellent example. My wheezing and morning cough have disappeared. Before, I was “prehypertensive.” Now my BP is 177/79. My story is typical.>>>


Are you aware of what you are stating here? /and are these numbers really an accurate reflection of your new baseline BP? It basically states that your blood pressure is now in a much more severe category, rather than the category of watchful concern it was before.

This is in no way an "attack", but rather an alert to prevent an attack from the enemy... as well as a possible alert of a typo or other misunderstanding. You may want to confirm w/ multiple readings what your true BP range is now. Perhaps this is even an improvement for you... but it doesn't appear to be the case if you were just "pre" before. I don't know what to think, other than from the perspective of a nurse, (R.N.) the BP #s jumped out at me..... (and may at someone else causing the entire content to be questionable or discredited) and you work too hard ( & would be extremely effective otherwise) to let that happen.

There are multiple factors that can result in an inaccurate reading. I won't go into that right now...

Normal Results

In adults, the ideal top number (systolic pressure) should be less than 120 mmHg. The bottom number (diastolic pressure) should be less than 80 mmHg.


What Abnormal Results Mean





Prehypertension:

• Top number is consistently 120 to 139 or the bottom number reads 80 to 89.

Stage 1: Mild high blood pressure:

• Top number is consistently 140 to 159 or the bottom number reads 90 to 99.

Stage 2: Moderate to severe high blood pressure:

• Top number is consistently 160 or over or the bottom number reads 100 or over.

Low blood pressure (hypotension):

• Top number reading lower than 90 or pressure 25 mmHg lower than usual

The top number is the systolic blood pressure reading. It represents the maximum pressure exerted when the heart contracts.
The bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure reading. It represents the minimum pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest.

 

[Vocalek]

TYPO - Should read ONE-ONE-SEVEN over SEVEN-NINE

Sorry. Sometimes my fingers don't type what my brain instructs them to.


This was brought to my attention via PM, and I certainly would have corrected it by now, but there is no EDIT button on the post to allow me to do so.

 

[Slither]

My comments to them:

I have switched from tobacco cigarettes to electronic cigarettes. After thorough research in to the ingredients, I believe the e-cigarette to be a much safer and vialble alternative to tobacco. The FDA has employed their scare tactic, stating the e-cigarette contains the same chemical as anti-freeze and is potentially toxic. DEG/Diethylene glycol is found in much greater concentrations in traditional tobacco, and in much, much smaller concentrations in electronic cigarette formula. It saddens me that your law firm is taking a position (as judged by your request from information about the harm the e-cigarettes have caused) against this technology that has enabled many of us who were long time tobacco users to quit the habit. I will be suprised if your firm finds any direct relevant evidence that electronic cigarettes contribute to or cause health problems.