FDA: e-cigs are toxic
Published on August 11, 2009 10:35 AM
The US Food and Drug Administration experts confirmed last week that they have detected toxic chemicals in electronic cigarettes, including those, linked with cancer-causing substances, although distributors affirmed public that their products are much healthier than conventional cigarettes.
The FDA scientists admitted that laboratory analyses of the contents of two samples of top-selling electronic cigarettes found several hazardous ingredients, including a principal substance used in antifreeze.
FDA spokesperson said that they have little information regarding the electronic cigarettes, including the amount of nicotine in them and presence of other substances.
FDA experts admitted that they have investigated 19 samples of electronic cigarettes, major part of which contained traces of nitrosamine, a chemical known to trigger cancer in humans. The majority of the devices that stated to lack nicotine on the contrary contained various amounts of it.
The FDA also revealed the names of distributors of the electronic cigarettes that have been found to contain carcinogens. The list of distributors included Florida-based Smoking Everywhere and Arizona’s NJoy Cigarettes, the two leading e-cigs sellers. The Electronic Cigarette Association denied commenting on the findings.
Public health groups have been especially concerned by the fact that electronic cigarettes are luring minors into smoking, serving as a first step to becoming smokers of regular cigarettes.
Representative of Smoke-Free America said that they have recently won longtime battle with tobacco industry to ban flavored tobacco products, and now they are facing a new challenge in electronic cigarettes that as well provide various flavorings, from chocolate to cherry and bubblegum.
Since e-cigarettes are not subject to federal tobacco regulations, they are also much easier for adolescents to get.
E-cigs look like ordinary cigarettes as they have a white body and glowing tip; they provide a nicotine smoke inhaled by users, and even evaporate clouds of white mist, imitating cigarettes. The overwhelming majority of these devices are produced in China.
Producers and distributors have foisted their devices as a safer replacement to conventional cigarettes since they don’t produce second-hand smoke and don’t provide any toxic chemicals.
However, now it is evident, and scientifically proven that those claims have been deceptive and misleading.
Amid constantly dropping smoking rates, tobacco industry developed several smokeless tobacco products to retain smokers as their customers. Among newly-introduced products there are tobacco for chewing, moist snuff and snus.
However, neither Altria nor Reynolds or Lorillard introduced their variety of electronic cigarettes, as they stated they would rather invent less harmful tobacco products than switch to devices like electronic cigarettes.
Last month, the FDA was provided with the legal power to oversee tobacco products, but the Administration was already able to control electronic cigarettes, since they are claimed to contain no tobacco.
