I wrote a research report on e-cigarettes for my college English class. I The main points I covered in the paper were about the issues the FDA has had with allowing them to be considered smoking cessation aids, as well as the lack of solid research to support any health claims for or against them. The paper is attached. Thank you!
Research Paper on E-Cigs
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It didn't attach, so here it is in raw text.
Nicotine addiction has remained one of the strongest forms of dependency since the establishment of the tobacco industry. As we find ourselves entering the golden age of technology, an alternative to traditional smoking has emerged. E-Cigarettes have entered the market as a way for smokers to satiate their nicotine addiction and oral fixation without the numerous additives in cigarettes. However, skepticism from the Food and Drug Administration has labeled e-cigarettes to be prematurely deemed dangerous by the media (Dellorto). The debate on their safety as well as effectiveness has kept a standstill on further progress to introduce them as smoking cessation tools. Because of this, consumers who have positive results with e-cigarettes are left to wonder what could be delaying the needed research to support the Food and Drug Administration’s stance on e-cigarettes.
E-cigarettes have been available for less than decade in America, but in that time they have created a growing fan base of ex-smokers who swear by them (Dellorto). Although many people still don't know much about them, those who have tried quitting smoking with the aid of the e-cigarettes have started their own movement on the web and in their communities. The way information is communicated in present day allows people to share their testimonials of the products’ effectiveness much easier. This is the case with e-cigarettes, as there are hundreds of online groups with members who all discuss their success stories with these devices (Fugit). With growing positive reviews circulating the web, how does the other side of the debate handle its claims of e-cigarettes being ineffective and potentially dangerous?
This is due largely to the fact that e-cigarettes are a new product. They have not had much official research completed by organizations such as the Food and Drug Administration would like (Wilson). The Food and Drug Administration has considered e-cigarettes and has tried to detain importations of e-cigarette devices (Melnick), as well as considering them "drug-delivery devices" until clinical trials demonstrated their safety and efficacy (Tierney).
There have been claims to suggest that people need more than nicotine to satisfy their addiction to cigarettes. These suggestions have headed debate over what makes up the addictive properties of a traditional cigarette, and how their ingredients compare to e-cigarettes. Recent research reveals there are two main mechanisms in the physiological addiction to smoking. The first being nicotine, which activates the neurotransmitter receptors in the pleasure centers of the brain and provides a feeling of well-being and satisfaction (Lewis). The second mechanism is Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, which constrain the neurotransmitter receptors from depletion. When these two properties are combined there is an extremely addictive quality to them (Lewis). The MAOI’s keep the feeling from fading until the neurotransmitter receptors are finally cleared by the body (Lewis). It is worth noting that MAOI’s are a class of very powerful therapeutic anti-depressive drugs.
Propylene glycol accounts for about 80% of the nicotine liquid found in e-cigarettes. The Food and Drug Administration deems it “recognized as safe” for oral inhalation or consumption in small to moderate quantities (Melnick). Propylene glycol is used in asthma inhalers and has been comprehensively studied since 1947 and has no risks other than minor skin or eye or irritation when exposed to in large amounts ("Health Facts and Fears"). Propylene glycol is absorbed into lungs and metabolized into citric and lactic acid. Some rare cases have been reported of individuals sensitive to propylene glycol, which has given an alternative, vegetable glycerin to be used as substitution in e-cigarette nicotine liquid ("Health Facts and Fears"). Vegetable glycerin has a similar history of research and does not pose any potential health risks when inhaled or consumed.
The additional ingredients in e-cigarette nicotine juice are citric acid, water, and food flavoring. The available flavorings come in a large assortment, from traditional tobacco flavor to raspberry Danish (Fugit). Commercial food flavorings are used to produce the flavored nicotine liquid, all of which are used in edible products found in stores.
The question is raised whether the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid is supported with conclusive studies. Two studies of e-cigarettes were published recently in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine conducted through online surveys filled out by people who have bought the e-cigarette model Blu eCigs (Melnick). The surveys resulted in 67% of responses stating that the e-cigarette helped smokers cut down on their cigarette intake, and 31% responding that they stayed cigarette-free by six months (Melnick).
One argument that those opposed to the cigarettes make is that the quality of an e-cigarette is not universal. The e-cigarette is made of several components, including batteries, atomizers, cartridges, and the juice that holds the nicotine and flavors that becomes vapor (Dellorto). When inhaled, the battery warms liquid nicotine stored in a plastic filter, and the combination of heat and liquid creates the “smoke” (Dellorto). Many of these parts are interchangeable with other manufacturer models, suggesting no one e-cigarette can clearly represent all models on the market (Fugit). With all products, the risk of faulty equipment is high when it's being produced from several different sources and used in combination, as the specifications for one piece may not exactly meet another.
Opposing this, e-cigarette users have used the communities they formed to express their own knowledge and experience to help others utilize their devices as safely and effectively as they find possible from their own personal research (Fugit). These communities also share their experience with particular flavors, as well as sharing recipes on how to make the juice needed for e-cigarettes as to customize to flavor (Fugit).
It's no surprise that e-cigarettes are being more heavily discussed in the news as their popularity grows, which has added pressure to the Food and Drug Administration to start scientific research on the safety and effectiveness of these devices. So far, the claims made by the Food and Drug Administration and other health organizations have little backing as long as no concrete evidence confirms their safety either way (Dellorto). However, as America is the land of opportunity, plenty of American-made e-cigarette companies have been selling their products, allowing the entrepreneurial nature of our country to flourish in this new industry.
This is true for many actively involved in the e-cigarette business, as well as the communities that are in favor of the potential they have on quitting cigarette addiction. Many people have begun petitions to try to impose more research to be done on these devices, as some feel it is unjustified for claims to be made against e-cigarette’s safety when there are nothing but positive reviews from the consumers ("Health Facts and Fears"). One petition in particular has taken on this task. Jon Deak, founder of The Safe Cig, an e-cigarette distributor, has organized the petition along with The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association for the Obama administration to recognize e-cigarettes as effective tools against smoking, as well as allowing them to create jobs in the growing industry ("Health Facts and Fears"). This petition would not only force activity to be taken by the Food and Drug Administration for research on these devices, but also have them recognized as smoking cessation devices which could theoretically help millions of people find an easier and more satisfying way to quit smoking as compared to the nicotine patch or gum ("Health Facts and Fears").
As Deak’s petition suggests, the introduction of e-cigarettes to the American economy has already offered many new job opportunities for Americans in their distribution. Brandon Fugit is a co-owner of an online e-cigarette shop. Fugit discussed his interest in entering the e-cigarette business partly due to his personal investment in quitting smoking, but also due to the excitement of being a part of a rapidly growing industry at its birth (Fugit). He stated that the love of small companies and innovative new business opportunities has led many in this economy to find passion in e-cigarettes (Fugit).
Fugit has also been actively involved in the online communities for e-cigarette users. He helps relay new information and research reach to the consumers who are committed to finding evidence for the potential health risks involved with this product, and had this to say:
Being so new, we do not know the long term effects of e-cigarettes on the body. Ideally, if one is using electronic cigarettes to get away from “analog” or tobacco cigarettes, the nicotine level should be dropped incrementally over the course of time until no nicotine is being ingested. This will make it much easier to break the hand-to-mouth side of the habit as well, and one can completely rid themselves of the inhalation of any of these kinds of products. . . .
It would seem right now that the value of electronic cigarettes is being measure more by politics than their actual efficiency and effectiveness of ridding the world of choking cigarette smoke. Big Tobacco obviously does not like something that will cut into their global sales. The FDA cannot make a valid opinion because they do not seem to be interested in doing actual studies and research into whether e-cigs are valuable cessation devices. (Fugit)
Progress has been made in the past few years to bring e-cigarettes to the hands of consumers. One such act of progress was made when the federal appellate court unanimously ruled an injunction against the Federal Drug Administration’s attempt to more strictly regulate their use as drugs (Wilson). The Federal Drug Administration attempted to consider e-cigarettes as tobacco devices, which would fall into the tobacco control act that passed in 2009 (Wilson). However, as e-cigarettes contain no tobacco, they did not find the appellate court in favor. Another large boost to bringing e-cigarettes to the attention of consumers came from the e-cigarette company Smoking Everywhere, which gave samples of e-cigarettes to celebrities at the Grammy and Oscar awards in 2008 (Dellorto). This tactic brought e-cigarettes into the tabloids, with Mel Gibson, Johnny Depp, Catherine Heigl, Leonardo DiCaprio, and dozens of other celebrities advocating their effectiveness and sharing their success (Drift). Just as a celebrity’s designer purse or make-up can influence a mass market to purchase those products, e-cigarettes have found the same trend (Drift).
The current struggle for the approval of e-cigarettes as cessation devises in the United States is slowly coming to an end with more research being completed. More studies have been planned for the advancement in e-cigarettes, which will help solidify any concrete stance on their efficacy and safety. There are still several years ahead for the Food and Drug Administration to approve their use, as sufficient studies take time and funding. However, with more people sharing their experience with others, the community is growing and the people who support e-cigarettes are voicing their opinions. More people are willing to take a stand for what they believe works for them, which will result in the Food and Drug Administration being pressured into action.
Nicotine addiction has remained one of the strongest forms of dependency since the establishment of the tobacco industry. As we find ourselves entering the golden age of technology, an alternative to traditional smoking has emerged. E-Cigarettes have entered the market as a way for smokers to satiate their nicotine addiction and oral fixation without the numerous additives in cigarettes. However, skepticism from the Food and Drug Administration has labeled e-cigarettes to be prematurely deemed dangerous by the media (Dellorto). The debate on their safety as well as effectiveness has kept a standstill on further progress to introduce them as smoking cessation tools. Because of this, consumers who have positive results with e-cigarettes are left to wonder what could be delaying the needed research to support the Food and Drug Administration’s stance on e-cigarettes.
E-cigarettes have been available for less than decade in America, but in that time they have created a growing fan base of ex-smokers who swear by them (Dellorto). Although many people still don't know much about them, those who have tried quitting smoking with the aid of the e-cigarettes have started their own movement on the web and in their communities. The way information is communicated in present day allows people to share their testimonials of the products’ effectiveness much easier. This is the case with e-cigarettes, as there are hundreds of online groups with members who all discuss their success stories with these devices (Fugit). With growing positive reviews circulating the web, how does the other side of the debate handle its claims of e-cigarettes being ineffective and potentially dangerous?
This is due largely to the fact that e-cigarettes are a new product. They have not had much official research completed by organizations such as the Food and Drug Administration would like (Wilson). The Food and Drug Administration has considered e-cigarettes and has tried to detain importations of e-cigarette devices (Melnick), as well as considering them "drug-delivery devices" until clinical trials demonstrated their safety and efficacy (Tierney).
There have been claims to suggest that people need more than nicotine to satisfy their addiction to cigarettes. These suggestions have headed debate over what makes up the addictive properties of a traditional cigarette, and how their ingredients compare to e-cigarettes. Recent research reveals there are two main mechanisms in the physiological addiction to smoking. The first being nicotine, which activates the neurotransmitter receptors in the pleasure centers of the brain and provides a feeling of well-being and satisfaction (Lewis). The second mechanism is Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, which constrain the neurotransmitter receptors from depletion. When these two properties are combined there is an extremely addictive quality to them (Lewis). The MAOI’s keep the feeling from fading until the neurotransmitter receptors are finally cleared by the body (Lewis). It is worth noting that MAOI’s are a class of very powerful therapeutic anti-depressive drugs.
Propylene glycol accounts for about 80% of the nicotine liquid found in e-cigarettes. The Food and Drug Administration deems it “recognized as safe” for oral inhalation or consumption in small to moderate quantities (Melnick). Propylene glycol is used in asthma inhalers and has been comprehensively studied since 1947 and has no risks other than minor skin or eye or irritation when exposed to in large amounts ("Health Facts and Fears"). Propylene glycol is absorbed into lungs and metabolized into citric and lactic acid. Some rare cases have been reported of individuals sensitive to propylene glycol, which has given an alternative, vegetable glycerin to be used as substitution in e-cigarette nicotine liquid ("Health Facts and Fears"). Vegetable glycerin has a similar history of research and does not pose any potential health risks when inhaled or consumed.
The additional ingredients in e-cigarette nicotine juice are citric acid, water, and food flavoring. The available flavorings come in a large assortment, from traditional tobacco flavor to raspberry Danish (Fugit). Commercial food flavorings are used to produce the flavored nicotine liquid, all of which are used in edible products found in stores.
The question is raised whether the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid is supported with conclusive studies. Two studies of e-cigarettes were published recently in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine conducted through online surveys filled out by people who have bought the e-cigarette model Blu eCigs (Melnick). The surveys resulted in 67% of responses stating that the e-cigarette helped smokers cut down on their cigarette intake, and 31% responding that they stayed cigarette-free by six months (Melnick).
One argument that those opposed to the cigarettes make is that the quality of an e-cigarette is not universal. The e-cigarette is made of several components, including batteries, atomizers, cartridges, and the juice that holds the nicotine and flavors that becomes vapor (Dellorto). When inhaled, the battery warms liquid nicotine stored in a plastic filter, and the combination of heat and liquid creates the “smoke” (Dellorto). Many of these parts are interchangeable with other manufacturer models, suggesting no one e-cigarette can clearly represent all models on the market (Fugit). With all products, the risk of faulty equipment is high when it's being produced from several different sources and used in combination, as the specifications for one piece may not exactly meet another.
Opposing this, e-cigarette users have used the communities they formed to express their own knowledge and experience to help others utilize their devices as safely and effectively as they find possible from their own personal research (Fugit). These communities also share their experience with particular flavors, as well as sharing recipes on how to make the juice needed for e-cigarettes as to customize to flavor (Fugit).
It's no surprise that e-cigarettes are being more heavily discussed in the news as their popularity grows, which has added pressure to the Food and Drug Administration to start scientific research on the safety and effectiveness of these devices. So far, the claims made by the Food and Drug Administration and other health organizations have little backing as long as no concrete evidence confirms their safety either way (Dellorto). However, as America is the land of opportunity, plenty of American-made e-cigarette companies have been selling their products, allowing the entrepreneurial nature of our country to flourish in this new industry.
This is true for many actively involved in the e-cigarette business, as well as the communities that are in favor of the potential they have on quitting cigarette addiction. Many people have begun petitions to try to impose more research to be done on these devices, as some feel it is unjustified for claims to be made against e-cigarette’s safety when there are nothing but positive reviews from the consumers ("Health Facts and Fears"). One petition in particular has taken on this task. Jon Deak, founder of The Safe Cig, an e-cigarette distributor, has organized the petition along with The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association for the Obama administration to recognize e-cigarettes as effective tools against smoking, as well as allowing them to create jobs in the growing industry ("Health Facts and Fears"). This petition would not only force activity to be taken by the Food and Drug Administration for research on these devices, but also have them recognized as smoking cessation devices which could theoretically help millions of people find an easier and more satisfying way to quit smoking as compared to the nicotine patch or gum ("Health Facts and Fears").
As Deak’s petition suggests, the introduction of e-cigarettes to the American economy has already offered many new job opportunities for Americans in their distribution. Brandon Fugit is a co-owner of an online e-cigarette shop. Fugit discussed his interest in entering the e-cigarette business partly due to his personal investment in quitting smoking, but also due to the excitement of being a part of a rapidly growing industry at its birth (Fugit). He stated that the love of small companies and innovative new business opportunities has led many in this economy to find passion in e-cigarettes (Fugit).
Fugit has also been actively involved in the online communities for e-cigarette users. He helps relay new information and research reach to the consumers who are committed to finding evidence for the potential health risks involved with this product, and had this to say:
Being so new, we do not know the long term effects of e-cigarettes on the body. Ideally, if one is using electronic cigarettes to get away from “analog” or tobacco cigarettes, the nicotine level should be dropped incrementally over the course of time until no nicotine is being ingested. This will make it much easier to break the hand-to-mouth side of the habit as well, and one can completely rid themselves of the inhalation of any of these kinds of products. . . .
It would seem right now that the value of electronic cigarettes is being measure more by politics than their actual efficiency and effectiveness of ridding the world of choking cigarette smoke. Big Tobacco obviously does not like something that will cut into their global sales. The FDA cannot make a valid opinion because they do not seem to be interested in doing actual studies and research into whether e-cigs are valuable cessation devices. (Fugit)
Progress has been made in the past few years to bring e-cigarettes to the hands of consumers. One such act of progress was made when the federal appellate court unanimously ruled an injunction against the Federal Drug Administration’s attempt to more strictly regulate their use as drugs (Wilson). The Federal Drug Administration attempted to consider e-cigarettes as tobacco devices, which would fall into the tobacco control act that passed in 2009 (Wilson). However, as e-cigarettes contain no tobacco, they did not find the appellate court in favor. Another large boost to bringing e-cigarettes to the attention of consumers came from the e-cigarette company Smoking Everywhere, which gave samples of e-cigarettes to celebrities at the Grammy and Oscar awards in 2008 (Dellorto). This tactic brought e-cigarettes into the tabloids, with Mel Gibson, Johnny Depp, Catherine Heigl, Leonardo DiCaprio, and dozens of other celebrities advocating their effectiveness and sharing their success (Drift). Just as a celebrity’s designer purse or make-up can influence a mass market to purchase those products, e-cigarettes have found the same trend (Drift).
The current struggle for the approval of e-cigarettes as cessation devises in the United States is slowly coming to an end with more research being completed. More studies have been planned for the advancement in e-cigarettes, which will help solidify any concrete stance on their efficacy and safety. There are still several years ahead for the Food and Drug Administration to approve their use, as sufficient studies take time and funding. However, with more people sharing their experience with others, the community is growing and the people who support e-cigarettes are voicing their opinions. More people are willing to take a stand for what they believe works for them, which will result in the Food and Drug Administration being pressured into action.
Ah don't worry about the format. The paper is great and is most appreciated. Thank you Kaldea.
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