Top scientists warn WHO not to stub out e-cigarettes

[Painter_]

This was posted by Dr.Konstantinos Farsalinos on Facebook.

A group of 53 leading scientists has warned the World Health Organisation not to classify e-cigarettes as tobacco products, arguing that doing so would jeopardize a major opportunity to slash disease and deaths caused by smoking.

Top scientists warn WHO not to stub out e-cigarettes | Reuters

 

[wv2win]

Thank you for sharing and posting. I did not see where I could find the "open letter" with the list of Scientists who signed the letter. Did I just miss it?

 

[Painter_]

I could not find it ether. I hope that in a day or so, once it hits the main stream there will be links to it.

 

[Tom Servo]

Thank you for sharing and posting. I did not see where I could find the "open letter" with the list of Scientists who signed the letter. Did I just miss it?

It's here [pdf].

 

[NC_Fog]

This thread is like a breath of fresh air! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Jugband]

Wonderful! Thanks!

 

[montara]

To the top! Awesome letter and great ammo for our fight.
Thanks for posting.


edit; more great reading here http://nicotinepolicy.net/ the originating site of OP's letter

 

[TyPie]

FANTASTIC!!!!!! Very powerful stuff, and wonderful ammunition from authoritative sources for our cause!!!!!!!!

 

[KODIAK (TM)]

Typically, when I visit this forum I'm ready to hang myself in disgust after just 20 minutes:

tobacco harm reduction is part of the solution, not part of the problem. It could make a significant contribution to reducing the global burden of non-communicable diseases caused by smoking, and do so much faster than conventional strategies.

There is no evidence at present of material risk to health from vapour emitted from e-cigarettes. Decisions on whether it is permitted or banned in a particular space should rest with the owners or operators of public spaces

much has been made of 'gateway effects', in which use of low-risk products would, it is claimed, lead to use of high-risk smoked products. We are unaware of any credible evidence that supports this conjecture.

Excessive taxation of low risk products relative to combustible tobacco deters smokers from switching and will cause more smoking and harm than there otherwise would be.

I've actually read the WHO letter twice. Is this a joke? A setup? (pardon my cynicism).

 

[Mossy]

I think its pretty real. Five Australians Scientists signed it, but of course the one missing was our chief ANTZ campaigner Professor Simon Chapman. He was just on the radio with his usual BS. The news story is worth a listen.........its here The World Today - News & Current Affairs Radio its the last news story at the bottom. I have not broken the link because the main part is positive, if it should be broken please do so.

 

[DrMA]

Typically, when I visit this forum I'm ready to hang myself in disgust after just 20 minutes:

This^^^ +1. Couldn't have put it better even if I tried.

 

[Katya]

Also posted here by Smokey Joe:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...cigs-tobacco-harm-reduction.html#post13279271

 

[ukeman]

Awesome thank you.

It is already happening that well intentioned Doctors and Health specialists are being fed bullet points (talking points) about children being poisoned by accidental drinking liquid nicotene, and rumors of toxic ingredients in ecig juices which are skirting or embellishing the truth.

Scare tactics are being promoted and I'd bet my favorite APV big T is behind it with lobbying etc.

Remember, It wasn't too long ago all the CEO's of Big T sat before the congressional hearings and stated they believed tobacco smoking was not harmful.

My favorite (preferred) site for nutritional and even some medical info is Mercola.com.
I was horrified to see a fearmongering article on ecigs being worse than smoking just yesterday.
(so far over a hundred forum users were ...... and they got an earful...)

 

[cookiebun]

I don't know if anyone posted this;


Top secret document shows WHO plans to classify e-cigarettes the same as regular cigarettes - The Times of India

Supposedly the 53 are responding to that.

 

[aubergine]

Reuters has it but couldn't find it in any US news outlet so far. Might be a good idea to forward the Reuter's link to your favorite (or least favorite, or whatever) media. This one's significant, methinks.

 

[wv2win]

It's here [pdf].

Thank you. CASAA needs to put this on their web site.

 

[aubergine]

It's all over Reddit, anyway. Anyone want to lay bets on US media taking this one?

 

[beakerinDoverAr]

It was on the Fox business channel this morning.

 

[AgentAnia]

Clive Bates has posted a "reader's guide" to the letter. Well worth the read (it also links to the letter itself):

Letter to WHO on low risk alternatives to smoking: a reader’s guide « The counterfactual

 

[Impulso]

I certainly hope this helps. The FDA and other bodies don't care about opinions, unless they have multi million dollar double blinded cross over studies...that show significant mortality benefit. Now who on earth would be able to come up with a study like that in todays world? Nearly every person in the trial will never go back to cigarettes once they have tried e-cigs(for the cross over portion), and the trial would fall apart..and it would also take about 40-50 years to run..