Just finished uploading my comments to the FDA concerning the proposed deeming regs.. I tried to keep my comments at a strictly personal level with out cluttering them up with a lot of references to this or that study. I am sure there are commentators more astute than i when referring to all the scientific literature.
I am posting my comments below. I hope they are not to far off base.
regards
mike
Dear Sirs and or Madams,
In regards to the pending Deeming regulations concerning electronic cigarettes may i submit the following.
I am a 59 year old male. On July 24,2013 i quit smoking tobacco and switched to e-cigs. At that time i was consuming 2 or more packs a day. i had been smoking continuously for 38 years.My health was poor having high blood pressure,enlarged heart,congested lungs,water gain and,sore joints. After switching to e-cigs my lungs cleared up and i no longer coughed all day.My blood pressure dropped although i still require medication. My heart palpitations are much reduced. Persistent rashes have disappeared. I generally feel much better. Although bad knees make my mobility painful, I no longer have to stop every block to catch my breath. I believe this improvement is due to the extremely low toxicity of e-cigs compared to smoked tobacco.
My main concern with the pending regulations is if they are as stringent as those for smoked tobacco they would destroy the market and just leave the large tobacco companies. The devices used in vaporizing the liquid are easily made from common elements one can purchase anywhere. Search the net for e-cig flashlight conversion.
E Cig LED Flashlight Mod | DIY at Home!
This and 135,000 other results show up in Yahoo search. As one can see trying to regulate these devices as if they where cigarettes would be near impossible. Other than regulating voltage of the devices and the ohms used in the coils trying to regulate batteries,wicks,and tanks would be pointless and un-necessary as the are easily made by anyone with a modicum of skill. For less skilled people there are tons of videos showing step by step instructions.
Another area of concern is the juice used in e-cigs. Clearly liquid with no nicotine could not be regulated. How ever when all the ingredients used can be now purchased legally and separately right now how is regulation going to address this? There are already hundreds if not thousands of companies making and selling e-juice with or with out nicotine. i have not heard or am aware of any injuries or deaths occurring as the result of this activity. There are also untold numbers making there own juices at home using food grade and pharmaceutical grade ingredients and,apparently just as successfully as commercial suppliers.
searching the net for do it yourself e-juice one finds 41,500,000 hits on Yahoo search. Among these results one will find conversion charts and recipes that would allow anyone to safely make e-juice to exacting specifications. If one can follow the directions on a box of cake mix one can safely make e-juice.
Other than requiring commercial grade sanitary conditions at facilities making e-juice and the use of FDA approved ingredients any further regulation would put a strangle hold on most of the industry.
The regulation i fear the most is any rules concerning flavors. It is undeniable that children like flavors. It is also undeniable that adults do too. To imply just because some thing has flavors and, that the flavors in and of themselves justify banning them from adults is extreme over simplifacation to say the least. Is it any wonder why cynicism against agencies like yours and,government and elected officials in general is so high? In America where one can buy flavored condoms and vodka with no apparent concern for children these same flavors in e-juice constitute a grave danger to their health. Adult consumers simply want and demand flavors.
Another point about child safety is the use of child resistant caps. i have no problem with this except i do not under stand why one doesn't find these on a can of Draino. I am not disparaging this fine product,only pointing out the lack of concern across the board when it comes to child safety. things like this make me think its all about the money certain concerns are losing due to the e-cigs increase in popularity not,the health and safety of children or adults.
In conclusion instead of referring to all the research that has been done i assume you are aware of it. I would just ask you to access it fairly with no bias from what ever side it comes from. please base your regulations on what is known about this new product category not, on what someone wants us to believe.
respectfully submitted,
Michael A. S
please feel free to post your comments. i would like to see your views.
again,
mike