FDA pushes to crack down e-cigarettes
Published on August 11, 2009 4:56 AM
With an amber glowing tip and slim white body, electronic cigarettes closely resemble their ordinary counterparts. However, their marketers claim that they are much healthier and safer for humans in comparison to traditional cigarettes, since they provide similar taste of nicotine without any second-hand smoke. But the experts have been seriously concerned that the new gizmos, with majority of which made in China, present a much severe health risks than conventional cigarettes.
The FDA experts recently entitled with the power to control tobacco products turned their heads to these unregulated and unapproved devices, and the content of chemicals in them.
Laboratory analyses demonstrated that electronic cigarettes’ cartridges contain nicotine and numerous toxic additives, including carcinogens and even diethylene glycol, a chemical commonly used in antifreeze, experts declared last week on a news-conference. The experts underlined that the devices don’t provide customers with any health warning labels.
During the last 24 months, the FDA agents have detained more than 50 shipments of electronic cigarettes due to the lack of any scientific evaluation over their safety for humans. Therefore, the distributors of e-cigs have been advertising and selling these devices illegally, since they hadn’t obtained the license to market them as nicotine-replacement therapies, said the FDA spokesperson.
Authorized to regulate tobacco products, the FDA plans approving a regulation to ban flavorings in e-cigs, and their advertising, and requesting health warnings similar to those placed on each cigarette pack.
Electronic cigarette manufacturers claim their devices do not have any secondhand smoke and thus, can be used in public places were smoking has been prohibited. Several months ago, Smoking Everywhere, the leading e-cigs distributor filled a lawsuit, challenging the FDA’s ban on shipments and claiming that the agency wasn’t entitled to regulate electronic cigarettes on equal basis with conventional cigarettes.
Nevertheless, public health experts state that e-cigarettes have been promoted among teenagers. As they contain such flavorings like chocolate and gum, these devices may lure minors to getting hooked on them and thus, becoming addicted to nicotine. So, the experts believe that the e-cigs should be regulated to avoid being a start point on the way to tobacco addiction for minors and younger adults. Another thing that concerns health advocates is that electronic cigarettes can be bought almost anywhere, online, in kiosks and shopping centers, what also makes them available for kids.
Internet advertisements make users of e-cigarettes becoming a sort of brave rebels and cool guys who managed to avoid complying with smoking bans in public places, what certainly is a sort of temptation for teens, who are well-known for their desire to break every possible rule.
But, electronic cigarettes sellers claim that their products are not available to minors, because the starter kit costs more than $100, however, as underage smoking rates remain constant, experts ay that teens can find necessary funds when they really want something.
