Last updated on June 17th, 2023
Regulators Continue to Ignore New E-Cigarette Safety Tests
E-cigarette usage is growing exponentially while cigarette smoking is diminishing. Recent data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that after holding steady for several years, the smoking rate fell from nearly 16 percent of adults in 2016 to 13.9 percent in 2017. Despite these impressive statistics, e-cigarettes face crippling legislation. A tidal wave of insidious politics is threatening to extinguish e-cigarettes all over the world.
Prominent members of the world’s medical communities are moving forward to discredit false statements and unscientific claims that would cripple the sale of electronic cigarettes.
In August, 2014 the World Health Organization did just that, but the pro-vaping community (including members of the medical community) were quick to point out that the WHO disregarded all scientific tests showing ecigarettes are smokers preferred nicotine replacement therapy, while patches and other pharmaceutical NRTs are inferior products.
Scientific Testing on E-Cigarettes
One study at the University of Catania found that in studying 300 smokers who were given e-cigarettes with or without nicotine, the smokers “decreased cigarette consumption and elicited enduring tobacco abstinence without causing significant side effects.”
A study on electronic cigarette use in the European Union sampled 27,460 Europeans from 28 countries. 95% of vapers say that they were previously smokers, and used e-cigarettes to quit smoking. In total, 9.2 million Europeans have quit and reduced smoking with the help of e-cigarettes.
According to Dr Richard Carmona, former Surgeon General under the George W. Bush administration,
“If we stopped tobacco use today, 80 percent of the lung cancers would go away—not today, but in the future.”
Source: CNBC August 16, 2013
A now famous study conducted by Professor Igor Burstyn, confirms that chemicals in electronic cigarettes are harmless and pose no health concern for e-cigarette users or bystanders who may be exposed to second hand vapor.
Dr. Neal Benowitz who served on the FDA’s Tobacco Products Scientific advisory committee said e-cigarettes are,
“likely pose less direct hazard to the individual smoker than tobacco cigarettes and might help smokers quit smoking or reduce harm by smoking fewer tobacco cigarettes.”
Source: –Winston-Salem Journal July 28, 2013
Dr. Jacques Le Houezec
Dr. Jacques Le Houezec, Consultant in Public Health, Tobacco Dependence Amzer Glas, Rennes & Special lecturer, UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies, University of Nottingham, England has conducted scientific tests that indicate the fatal overdose level for nicotine may be far higher than the generally accepted 50 to 60 mg (adult).
There have been numerous studies led by Dr. Konstantine E. Farsalinos of the Department of Cardiology, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center. Dr. Farsalinos is known for his groundbreaking clinical research into e-cigarettes and the effects of their use. It was shown that electronic cigarette use has “no immediate adverse effects on coronary circulation (blood and oxygen supply to the heart)”.
SOURCE: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4110871/
So If E-Cigarettes Are Relatively Safe, What’s Motivating E-Cigarette Bans and Bad Press?
The public should be aware that there are strong anti-e-cigarette groups lobbying to destroy these potentially lifesaving products. E-cigarettes compete with pharmaceutical companies, tobacco companies and other groups who have vested interests in eliminating anything that looks and acts remotely like a tobacco cigarette.
Here are some of the most publicized claims against e-cigarettes. We have noted or linked all available studies that back up these claims.
1 – Anecdotal (non-scientific) reports point to dangers caused by variations in product quality, such as varying nicotine levels and exploding batteries.
In answer to the above concerns we offer the following:
Although nicotine is an addictive ingredient in cigarettes, many experts agree that it is NOT especially harmful. It’s the tar and other carcinogenic ingredients in tobacco cigarettes that kill.
Maciej Goniewicz, oncologist at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York has said,
”Nicotine is not very dangerous, and it’s very unlikely someone will overdose on the nicotine in electronic cigarettes by inhaling the vapor”.
-Dr. Maciej Goniewicz
Regarding product quality, any legitimate e-cigarette company will disclose ingredients. If you research those ingredients, you’ll know exactly what you’re inhaling. The most respected (and popular) e-cigarette companies including VaporFi and MIG Vapor perform ultra-strict safety testing on all their their products and e-liquids.
Reports of exploding batteries showed that people were using batteries not designed for their models, they did not follow the instructions, or in most cases, they modified the batteries.
2- Anti-E-Cigarette groups fear that electronic cigarettes may “re-normalize” smoking. Also, vaping undermines smoking bans which have helped de-glamorize cigarettes.
In answer to the above concern we offer the following:
Vaping is not smoking. There is no flame, no smoke, no ash and no unpleasant smell associated with the use of an e-cigarette. The dangers of e-cigarette promotion only affect politicians and anti-smoking organizations who are loathe to admit that a simple consumer product has succeeded to do within a few years, what they have tried (and failed) to do in more than ten years – and that is to get people to stop using tobacco cigarettes.
3- The red, green or blue glowing tip might prove enticing to children.
We haven’t heard this one in a while, but a few years ago this was believed to be the main reason minors were vaping. To date, there is no scientific proof that children will start vaping because they are attracted to a flashing light.
This type of non-scientific, fear mongering “advertising” is unethical and undermines THR (tobacco harm reduction).
4- Anti-Vaping groups have voiced a common fear that children may enjoy the fruit flavors offered in e-cigarettes.
In answer to your e-cig concerns we offer the following:
Yes children do enjoy fruit flavors, and they may enjoy vaping fruit flavored e-cigs if they decided to do something illegal, (i.e. vape under the age of 21). E-cigarettes, like tobacco cigarettes are now regulated as adult products; same as alcohol (which, by the way, comes in many fruit flavors).
E-cigarettes come in fruit flavors for a good reason, and it’s not to attract kids. A scientific study conducted by Dr. Konstantinos showed that flavored e-cigarettes help to remove smokers from the tobacco experience and consequently play a major role in reducing or eliminating the smoking of tobacco cigarettes.
Some teenagers have tried electronic cigarettes. This issue is being monitored closely; however, according to the CDC National Youth Tobacco Survey, data confirmed that e-cigarette experimentation by youth since 2011 has not produced an epidemic of smoking. In fact, the decline in youth smoking accelerated to a record low rate.
But what if those numbers increase?
According to Professor Robert West, Professor of Health Psychology & Director of Tobacco Studies University College London (UCL),
“If those young people are people who would have smoked but instead they’re using e-cigarettes, then that’s a huge public health gain. If they’re people who would never have smoked but they’ve taken up e-cigarettes, frankly in public health terms it’s not really an issue – it’s like drinking coffee or something, there’s no real risk associated with it. ..The real risk is if they start using e-cigarettes and this acts as a gateway into smoking. Now which of those things happens none of us knows at the moment.”
Source: BBC NewsMagazine
We think the gateway fear is illogical. Teens say they start vaping because they don’t want to smoke cigarettes. Yes, they think vaping is cool. Why would they switch to toxic cigarettes which aren’t cool?
If you think e-cigarettes should be banned feel free to share with us the scientific facts supporting such a ban. Sorry we couldn’t find any to report.
If however; you think e-cigarettes face crippling legislation despite the fact that scientific tests prove they are relatively safe, please share this article.
E-CIGARETTE SAFETY UPDATE:
The scientific consensus behind e-cigarettes continues to strengthen with two separate studies – one in England and one in India – confirming that the devices are an effective tool for smokers who want to quit. Meanwhile other researchers found that despite previous alarmist claims, e-cig vapour causes no detectable damage to lung cells.
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1 comment
Good article, glad you published the truth about vaping. Vaping is 90% saver than tobacco.