Electronic Cigarettes
Electronic Cigarettes are NOT a safe alternative!
In July 2009, the FDA released results of its analysis of certain electronic cigarettes, which is the first known analysis of these new products. The analysis found that the "e-cigarette" cartridges contain carcinogens, including nitrosamines, and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol. The FDA commissioner of food and drugs stated, "The FDA is concerned about the safety of these products and how they are marketed to the public." There is also concern that since e-cigarettes "have not been submitted to the FDA for evaluation or approval, at this time the agency has no way of knowing, except for the limited testing it has performed, the levels of nicotine or the amounts or kinds of other chemicals that the various brands of these products deliver to the user," nor is any information known about the risks of inhaling secondhand vapor. To read more, see the FDA press release and their electronic cigarettes information page.
Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights is concerned that the manufacturers of electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes) are marketing them as something that smokers can use in workplaces and public places where the smoking of tobacco products is prohibited. Absent any proof that e-cigarettes are harmless to people exposed to the vapors they emit, their use in workplaces and public places would be a great disservice to public health. We believe that public health officials should make it clear that e-cigarettes are not an acceptable substitute for tobacco products in places that the law requires to be smokefree.
E-cigarettes are devices designed to mimic cigarettes. They come in a variety of flavors, nicotine levels, and new varieties, claiming to be a less dangerous alternative to smoking cigarettes, and are flooding the market (see pictures below). The metal tubes designed to look like real cigarettes contain a cartridge filled with a nicotine-laced liquid that is vaporized by a battery-powered heating element. The nicotine vapor is inhaled by smokers when they draw on the device, as they would a regular cigarette. Most e-cigarettes claim to contain nicotine, and some claim to also sell nicotine-free cartridges.
Health concerns exist about the safety of the e-cigarette to nonsmokers. A study published in February 2010 found that nicotine causes the formation of carcinogens when it reacts with nitrous acid - a common component of indoor air. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is exhaled by the user in a vapor cloud. Nicotine is a sticky substance that remains on surfaces for days and weeks, so the hazardous carcinogens continue to be created over time, which are then inhaled, absorbed or ingested.
Manufacturers are not required to declare the ingredients in e-cigarettes, nor in the substances inhaled and exhaled by the "smoker." This information is critical, not only to evaluate the health risks for the "smokers," but also to determine the risks for the people around them. At present, we are unaware of any independent health research available on e-cigarettes.
Some manufacturers claim e-cigarettes can help smokers to quit or cut down on smoking but there is no evidence to suggest these devices will help people to quit smoking. Even more troubling, the e-cigarettes come in a variety of flavors including chocolate and strawberry, likely to hook kids and other first-time users into trying the product.
The lack of available research on e-cigarettes and the potential health risks posed by the use of this product, both to the user and to the people around them, is of grave concern. The burden to prove their products are safe rests on the manufacturers of e-cigarettes. At this time, Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights recommends that e-cigarettes not be used in areas where people will be exposed to the vapors they emit.
| E-Cigs News |
| Air Force bans electronic cigarettes from the workplace The military might want its troops to quit smoking, just not by using electronic cigarettes. In recent weeks, the Air Force and at least one Marine base banned the use of the smokeless gadgets from the workplace. Also known as e-cigarettes, the devices came onto the scene about six years ago as a smokeless alternative to the real thing. But instead of needing a match to get started, e-cigs are battery-operated devices that contain a nicotine-filled cartridge, which is delivered to the user as a vapor. Citing a Food and Drug Administration test that found some brands of electronic cigarettes contain potentially toxic chemicals, the Air Force surgeon general's office last week categorized them as "tobacco products," and thus prohibits their use in most Air Force facilities. Last month, leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico banned the products in their facilities. . . . E-Cigarettes Spark New Smoking War The future of the fledgling industry--estimated at $100 million in annual sales and rising--may hinge on the outcome of a case scheduled for oral arguments before a federal appellate court in Washington, D.C., next month. The FDA is fighting to regulate the products as drug-delivery devices, similar to nicotine gums, patches or other nicotine-replacement products. Such a classification would subject e-cigarettes to lengthy and expensive trials to prove they are safe and effective. But many e-cigarette companies argue that their products are designed to be recreational alternatives to cigarettes, not devices to wean people off nicotine. They say they couldn't afford the high cost of clinical trials, and that any such mandate would drive many of them out of business or force the industry to go underground. ... Former Executive Blew Whistle on E-Cigarette Maker From Weston Now Being Investigated by AG E-cigarettes are in the strange position of suing to prove they're a tobacco product. A Weston-based company called Smoking Everywhere wanted an executive who could go to battle against the FDA and U.S. Customs, which had teamed up to ban the import of e-cigarettes. But by hiring Ray Story in 2008, Smoking Everywhere may have got more than it bargained for. Story -- who says he helped the company grab 60 percent of the market -- has left the company, and now he's taking the fight to his former Smoking Everywhere partners. The suit Story filed against the company has fueled an investigation by the Florida Attorney General's Office, which may be considering criminal charges. Initially, Story clashed with one of the principals of Smoking Everywhere, Elicko Taieb, about business strategy. The company was one of two plaintiffs enmeshed in an expensive lawsuit against the FDA, which was regulating e-cigarettes as drug devices. For this reason, e-cigarettes needed FDA approval. The companies argued that they should be defined as tobacco products, meaning they would be outside the purview of the FDA. ... Nicotine detected in 11 brands of e-cigarettes in Japan Eleven out of 25 electronic cigarettes sold in Japan have been found to contain small amounts of nicotine, which is banned in such devices, the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan said Wednesday. Test results show there is not sufficient evidence to confirm the safety of the 11 varieties of e-cigarettes so consumers are advised not to use them readily, the center said. The health ministry subsequently called on prefectural authorities to instruct marketers of the e-cigarettes in question to recall or refrain from selling them because such devices can be categorized as pharmaceuticals or medical equipment by law if they contain nicotine. ... Broward e-cigarette seller investigated by state The Florida Attorney General's Office is investigating a South Florida seller of smokeless electronic cigarettes following more than 80 consumer complaints that the company made unauthorized charges to credit cards, failed to deliver products and did not credit customers for returned merchandise, according to state documents. The state filing says the investigation targets Smoking Everywhere LLC, of Sunrise, and principles Elicko Taieb and Eitan Peer. State corporate records, however, indicate the company converted to Smoking Everywhere Inc. in 2009, is based in Weston, and lists Taieb as the only officer. Calls to the Smoking Everywhere website were answered by a distribution company, which said it was going to stop carrying the product and did not know how to reach Taieb or Peer. Smoking Everywhere Inc. and Taieb, in a settlement with the Oregon Attorney General last week ... Electronic Cigarettes: A Safer "Smoke" or Another Bad Habit? Affordable and readily available online by adults and minors alike, some argue that this product, which comes in flavors like chocolate or apple, is just another way for teens to get hooked on nicotine. Public health organizations, including the Food and Drug Administration, National Cancer Society, and American Lung Association, have publically denounced the unregulated device as potentially unsafe, but that hasn't stopped thousands of smokers from going electronic. … … The potential for subjecting non-smokers to the vapor of e-cigarettes led Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights to rally for bans on using them in public places: "We don't know if the vapor is truly safe. We just don't know that much about e-cigarettes. For every environment that's already smoke-free, we believe it should be e-cigarette free," says Cynthia Hallet [sic], executive director. … Oregon bans electronic cigarettes Somerset wants to ban e-cigarettes The town is taking a pre-emptive move against non-tobacco nicotine products -- often called e-cigarettes -- by requiring stores to obtain a license to sell them and prohibiting their use where smoking is already banned. The new regulations will go into effect on Sept. 1. The Board of Health gave approval last week. There are no known stores in Somerset that sell the non-tobacco products targeted under the regulations, but the Fall River area tobacco cessation and prevention coordinator, Marilyn Edge, has been urging area towns to put regulations in place. Taunton recently approved similar rules, but other area communities have yet to do so, she said. ... More banning e-cigarettes The Healthy Skeptic: Electronic cigarettes Even in these days of strict indoor clean air laws, you can still legally puff away in movie theaters, restaurants or even on a plane. You just have to use a cigarette that runs on a battery, not tobacco. Electronic cigarettes -- battery-powered devices that deliver a fine spray of nicotine without any flame or smoke -- have been sold in this country for about three years now. . . . Claims: The FDA does not allow e-cigarette companies to market the devices as aids to quit smoking. But both Ron MacDonald, president of Crown7, and Jonas Joiner, marketing director of SS Choice, say they know of plenty of ex-smokers who used e-cigarettes to wean themselves off the real thing. (A spokesperson for NJOY declined to comment because the company is currently in litigation with the FDA.) . . . The bottom line: Electronic cigarettes certainly have their appeal in a gadget-centric world, but many questions remain, says Thomas Eissenberg, director of the clinical behavioral pharmacology laboratory at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. For one thing, he says, e-cigarettes have never been studied for smoking cessation, so nobody knows if they are any more or less effective than other nicotine replacement products such as gums or patches. Also, Eissenberg says, it's not very clear what smokers are getting when they take a drag on an e-cigarette. ... A Clinical Laboratory Model for Evaluating the Acute Effects of Electronic "Cigarettes": Nicotine Delivery Profile and Cardiovascular and Subjective Effects Conventional and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have different smoking characteristics Electronic Cigarettes Require More Suction Than Conventional Brands Stronger suction is required to smoke “electronic cigarettes” – marketed as tobacco-free nicotine delivery systems – than conventional brands, with possible adverse effects on human health, researchers at the University of California, Riverside report. The researchers used a smoking machine to compare the smoking properties of eight conventional cigarettes with five e-cigarette brands. They examined the vacuum required to produce smoke (in the case of conventional cigarettes) or aerosol (in the case of e-cigarettes), and compared the density of the smoke/aerosol over time. The researchers found that except for one brand (Liberty Stix), higher vacuums were required to smoke e-cigarettes than conventional brands. The researchers also found that in the case of e-cigarettes, the aerosol density dropped after the first ten puffs, requiring still stronger suction thereafter to produce aerosol. Study results appeared last week in Nicotine and Tobacco Research. ... Bar offers indoor smoking option At least one Shawnee bar is trying to give its customers an option when it comes to smoking indoors. The Red Balloon, 10325 W. 75th St., has been offering electronic cigarettes for customers in the past month, with mixed responses thus far. Bar employees say it’s all about giving the customers the option to keep them inside now that the state has banned indoor smoking for all bars, restaurants and businesses that were not licensed private clubs prior to 2009. “If they want to smoke and they don’t want to go outside and blister in the heat or deal with the cold, then they have at least an option; something to do inside that’s legal,” said Beth Holzworth, the bar’s manager. ... Brown County Tavern League hopes e-cigarettes dampen effect smoking ban in Wisconsin GREEN BAY — In advance of the state's smoking ban on July 5, the Brown County Tavern League is selling electronic cigarettes, battery-powered devices that use liquid nicotine to imitate a cigarette's taste and effects. The league began selling the devices in March, and the demand from bars and taverns around the state has been "crazy," said Sue Robinson, president of the Brown County Tavern League. Made to look like cigarettes, electronic cigarettes do not use tobacco. The battery heats the nicotine when the user inhales, creating a vapor that gives the appearance of smoke."We're hoping that it'll keep our smoking customers comfortable and coming to our business," said Robinson, who sells the devices through her tavern, Bourbon Street, at 821 S. Broadway. When the ban takes effect, smoking in public indoor spaces will be prohibited, making it illegal to smoke any tobacco product, such as a cigar, cigarette or pipe. The electronic cigarettes would allow bar patrons to have a sense of smoking in a tavern without breaking the law, Robinson said. ... AMA meeting: E-cigarettes need FDA regulation, limits on sales Testing and safety information on electronic cigarettes is limited, the American Medical Association said, and the devices should be restricted. The AMA House of Delegates adopted policy at the organization's Annual Meeting in June recommending that e-cigarettes be classified as drug delivery devices that are subject to regulation by the Food and Drug Administration. In addition, state legislatures should prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes and all other nicotine devices that are not FDA-approved, and the products should be covered by smoke-free laws, the policy says. "I want them subject to [FDA] regulations so people know exactly what they're inhaling," said Atlanta internist Sandra Fryhofer, MD, a member of the AMA Council on Science and Public Health. AMA: Electronic Cigarettes are Drug Delivery Devices and Should Be Subject to FDA Regulations New policy adopted today by the American Medical Association (AMA) recommends that electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) be classified as drug delivery devices, subject to the same FDA regulations as all other drug delivery devices. Additional policy adopted supports prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes that are not FDA approved. "Very little data exists on the safety of e-cigarettes, and the FDA has warned that they are potentially addicting and contain harmful toxins," said AMA Board Member Edward L. Langston, M.D. "Our new policies can help ensure that e-cigarettes are properly classified and regulated."
New law closes loopholes on new tobacco products aimed at kids Tobacco Modernization and Compliance Act of 2010 enacted Minnesota's tobacco laws are strengthened to reduce youth access to tobacco products under a bill signed into law this week. The measure, known as the Tobacco Modernization and Compliance Act of 2010, authored by Senator Scott Dibble and Representative Jim Davnie, both DFL-Minneapolis, closes loopholes in current state law that allows many new tobacco products to skirt or avoid the taxation and regulation currently applied to cigarettes. "The face of the tobacco industry is rapidly changing, and we need to ensure Minnesota's laws and regulations keep up with that pattern," Sen. Dibble said "Right now, there are products being test-marketed, with children as the intended consumers, that were never envisioned when we wrote our tobacco laws decades ago. There is no such thing as a safe tobacco product, and we need to ensure that we have laws in place to make sure these new products are regulated and kept out of the hands of our kids." ... ...The new law also prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes to youth. E-cigarettes are electronic nicotine delivery devices that simulate smoking. They rely on a battery-operated nicotine vaporizer that delivers puffs of nicotine vapor to users. Current law does not prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to youth. ... Battery-operated cigarettes don't violate smoking ban, Cuccinelli says Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has ruled that battery-operated cigarettes known as e-cigarettes do not violate the state's smoking ban. Yes, battery-operated cigarettes. The devices have apparently been around for the last few years, marketed as a nicotine delivery system that doesn't cause second-hand smoke. They work by simulating the feeling of smoking providing inhaled doses of nicotine in a vaporized solution. In his opinion, Cuccinelli writes that the heated vapor produced by e-cigarettes does not constitute "smoke" as the word is "commonly understood" and therefore the devices don't violate Virginia's ban on smoking in restaurants or other public places. (The smoking ban prohibits "the carrying or holding of any lighted pipe, cigar, or cigarette of any kind, or any other lighted smoking equipment, or the lighting, inhaling, or exhaling of smoke from a pipe, cigar, or cigarette of any kind.") "An e-cigarette does not function in manner of a traditional cigarette because it functions electrically rather than via combustion of a material such as tobacco. Therefore, the vapor emitted by an e-cigarette would not fall within the definition of 'smoke' or 'smoking' in [the state law]," he wrote. ... Electronic cigarettes for sale at Foxwoods Retail stores at Foxwoods Resort Casino and MGM Grand at Foxwoods may be among the first in the state to sell electronic cigarettes, devices that have been making inroads with the public despite questions about whether they're safe. Cigotine, the Providence-based company that began offering its products at Foxwoods last month, also plans to start selling them next week from a kiosk inside Crystal Mall, the company's chief executive officer said Thursday. A spokesman for mall management confirmed the kiosk will open May 15. . . . Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who vowed last year to fight retail sales of e-cigarettes, said Thursday their safety remains questionable. "We've warned consumers to be very wary of these products," he said. "We're continuing our investigation to determine what steps can and should be taken to protect the public." Blumenthal, who said his office has received no complaints about e-cigarettes, has also advocated for an eventual outright ban on smoking at the state's tribally owned casinos, which currently limit smoking to certain gaming areas under agreements worked out with Gov. M. Jodi Rell. ... Call it E-Puffing, But Don't Do It Indoors We asked experts if e-cigs are safer than old-fashioned cigs. Michelle Marichal, of the American Lung Association, said the jury's still out. "We're reluctant because there have been no studies done except for one small one by the FDA, and that was an initial study and what it found is that these e-cigarettes contain carcinogens. They contain toxic chemicals like those found in antifreeze." NBC Connecticut dug deeper and asked UConn University Dr. Cheryl Oncken about those chemicals. "They have this propalene glycol in them in the part that's vaporized, and even though that's a chemical that's in foods, it's not known what happens when people inhale that. So the problem is we just don't have enough information," she said. Online retailer E-Cigarettes Choice says its e-cigs have 4,000 less chemicals than tobacco. . . . So, if it seems like the experts we spoke to aren't hot on the idea of using those e-cigarettes, listen to this, the American Association of Public Health Physicians just announced they think e-cigs could save 4 million smoker's lives within the next 20 years. Nonetheless, a New York senator is trying to ban the sale of e-cigs in New York, no word on whether a lawmaker here in Connecticut will follow suit. ... Henningfield, J.E.; Zaatari, G.S., "Electronic nicotine delivery systems: emerging science foundation for policy," Tobacco Control 19(2): 89-90, April 2010. Since they were first marketed in China in 2004, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) have spread globally like wildfire. Their proponents, who refer to the products as “electronic cigarettes” or “E-cigs”, argue that by delivering nicotine to the lung, they are more effective and acceptable than nicotine replacement medicines, and should be readily available as cigarette substitutes. An internet search using terms such as “electronic cigarette” reveals that the products vary widely in form, names, and nicotine delivery claims and health claims. Flavours include “tobacco” as well as cherry and other candy-like flavours banned for use in cigarettes in the USA1 and recommended for banning by the World Health Organization (WHO).2 ENDS marketers claim benefits: “cancer causing chemicals found in tobacco cigarettes are not found in electronic cigarettes”, “not any toxins”, “no first or second hand smoke”, “tobacco-like taste and flavors”, “won't stain teeth or damage skin”, “increase productivity and promote the potential health benefits”, “its [emissions are] simply water vapor” and “quit smoking”.3–5 Many public health authorities caution that the risks and benefits of ENDS have not been adequately studied, that they may not deliver nicotine as claimed and may deliver more toxicants than claimed. There is also concern that ENDS may undermine smoking prevention, cessation and clean air laws.6 7 Some countries have banned ENDS until they are adequately studied (eg, Brazil, Canada, Uruguay, Singapore, Turkey).7 The foregoing has occurred in virtual absence of published data on the contents, emissions and effects of the products. For medicines, and even for foods with health claims, manufacturers must conduct studies of safety and efficacy. Little verifiable data support ENDS promotion—and some implied claims are profound: “you can keep smoking with little or no risk … Bullen, C.; McRobbie, H.; Thornley, S.; Glover, M.; Lin, R.; Laugesen, M., "Effect of an electronic nicotine delivery device (e Cigarette) on desire to smoke and withdrawal, user preferences and nicotine delivery: randomised cross-over trial," Tobacco Control 19(2): 98-103, April 2010. CASAA | The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association CASAA is a non-profit organization that works to ensure the availability of reduced harm alternatives to smoking and to provide smokers and non-smokers alike with truthful information about such alternatives. Our mission is to ensure the availability of effective, affordable and reduced harm alternatives to smoking by increasing public awareness and education; to encourage the testing and development of products to achieve acceptable safety standards and reasonable regulation; and to promote the benefits of reduced harm alternatives. Within this site you will find published news stories, scientific studies, links and campaign materials to help in the fight to keep electronic cigarettes and other harm reduction methods publicly available. ... Electronic Cigarettes Inc. Makes Its Presence On The Social Networks Patrons of the company's wide range of electric cigarettes can now look forward to being a part of the wider community that is looking to shed itself of the traditional experience of smoking conventional cigarettes. ... Electronic cigarettes could be banned in Illinois It might soon be slightly tougher to get that type of nicotine fix in Illinois. Lawmakers and anti-smoking groups are trying to ban the sale of e-cigarettes, citing the federal Food and Drug Administration's lack of approval. The ban recently sailed through the Illinois Senate on a 49-4 vote and is now under consideration in the House. While the measure would prevent convenience stores, tobacco shops and mall kiosks from selling e-cigarettes, a big loophole remains -- there's no way to stop smokers from buying them online. "If there are things that are (FDA-)approved to help people curb the habit of smoking, I'm all for it," said sponsoring Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan. "Whatever the FDA approves, we will approve." Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, who voted against the measure, said the FDA is not a standard the state must use to decide which products can be sold. ... Smoking Everywhere, Inc., et al., Appellees v. Food & Drug Administration, et al., Appellants (PDF) ($$) BEFORE: Ginsburg, Griffith, and Kavanaugh, Circuit Judges O R D E R ORDERED that the administrative stay be dissolved. It is FURTHER ORDERED that the motion for stay be granted. Appellants have satisfied the stringent standards required for a stay pending appeal. See Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission v. Holiday Tours, Inc., 559 F.2d 841, 843 (D.C. Cir. 1977); D.C. Circuit Handbook of Practice and Internal Procedures 32-33 (2009). It is FURTHER ORDERED, on the court's own motion, that consideration of this appeal be expedited. The Clerk is directed to enter a briefing schedule and to calendar this case for oral argument on the first appropriate date in September 2010. Per Curiam E-Cigarette Imports Banned Indefinitely // Court of Appeals Strongly Sides With FDA, Reports ASH The court went out of its way in its brief ruling to suggest that the FDA was correct in declaring the product illegal, noting that "appellants [FDA] have satisfied the stringent standards required for a stay pending appeal." These standards require that the party seeking the stay show that it has made a "strong showing that it is likely to prevail on the merits of its appeal" -- in other words, that it is likely correct on the law, and will be the victor when a final decision is announced. The FDA had warned that e-cig use poses "acute health risks," that "the dangers posed by their toxic chemicals . . . cannot seriously be questioned," and that they have caused a wide variety of potentially serious symptoms "including racing pulse, dizziness, slurred speech, mouth ulcers, heartburn, coughing, diarrhea, and sore throat." COORDINATED ESTATE SERVICES, INC. D/B/A: OTIS CAMPBELL’S BAR & GRILL/AUNT BEA’S CAFE vs. IOWA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES DIVISION (PDF) After engaging in a meaningful review of the distinctions contained in the ISFAA the Court finds that they are rationally related to a legitimate state interest as described above. Moreover, assuming arguendo that the Court found that ISFAA was unconstitutional because it unfairly discriminated between the Bar and other similarly situated, yet exempted business such as casinos, the Bar would still lose is its liquor license. This is because, as the State argues in its brief, the remedy would be for the Court to strike the unconstitutional provision from the statute. Equal protection, at its core, requires that similar institutions (or individuals) are treated similarly. Thus, the remedy for an equal protection violation would to require similar treatment of the (allegedly) similar situated businesses. In this case, that would mean that if a finding was made that ISFAA s exemptions of certain public places, such as casinos, violated equal protection the remedy would be to strike the exemptions.14 Consequently, smoking would still be banned in public places such as the Bar. The difference is that smoking would also be banned in the heretofore exempted areas. Thus the Bar would still be subject to a license revocation/denial because of its failure to comply with the ISFAA. ... Hunter wants ban on E Cigarettes Cigarettes containing no tobacco, but create a vapor similar to smoke, are on a state Sen. Mattie Hunter's, D-3rd Dist., ban list. She is sponsoring legislation that will ban electronic or E-Cigarettes throughout the state. . . . "Electronic cigarettes have not been approved by the (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) and we don't know what is in them or if they are safe. Until these types of products are deemed certified or legal to sell by the FDA, they should be banned throughout Illinois," said Hunter, vice-chair of the state's Senate Public Health Committee. ... NH Moving Ahead With E-cigarette Ban For Youth Electronic cigarettes are readily available at mall kiosks and the Internet, come in flavors like tobacco, strawberry, chocolate and vanilla, and replace smoking with "vaping." And though they deliver a dose of nicotine steam, they can still be legally sold to and used by minors. Mara Zrzavy, a 16-year-old ConVal Regional High School student from Peterborough, thinks that's just wrong, and worries kids her age will view e-cigarettes as cool and become addicted to the nicotine. After they're hooked, some will switch to regular cigarettes, which are cheaper, she said. "It's like having a new cell phone. It's cool. It's electronic," she said. Zrzavy and other New Hampshire youth involved in anti-drug programs helped persuade the House to pass a bill barring e-cigarette use by minors and hope the Senate will do the same. Supporters want lawmakers to apply New Hampshire's law on tobacco products to e-cigarettes. ... Study reveals need to evaluate and regulate 'electronic cigarettes' Electronic cigarettes should be evaluated, regulated, labeled and packaged in a manner consistent with cartridge content and product effect -- even if that effect is a total failure to deliver nicotine as demonstrated in a study supported by the National Cancer Institute and led by a Virginia Commonwealth University researcher. The research was published in the Online First issue of the journal Tobacco Control. The article will appear in the February print issue of the journal. . . . "Consumers have a right to expect that products marketed to deliver a drug will work safely and as promised. Our findings demonstrate that the 'electronic cigarettes' that we tested do not deliver the drug they are supposed to deliver. It's not just that they delivered less nicotine than a cigarette. Rather, they delivered no measurable nicotine at all. In terms of nicotine delivery, these products were as effective as puffing from an unlit cigarette," said principal investigator Thomas Eissenberg, Ph.D., professor in the VCU Department of Psychology. According to Eissenberg, these findings are important because they demonstrate why regulation of these products is essential for protecting the welfare and rights of consumers ... Eissenberg, T., "Electronic nicotine delivery devices: ineffective nicotine delivery and craving suppression after acute administration," Tobacco Control 19(1): 87-88, February 2010. This document described research into the efficacy of two brands of electronic cigarettes in delivering nicotine to the user, by measuring plasma nicotine levels, heart rate and cigarette craving in cigarette smokers who used them. The study found that compared with a regular cigarette both of the electronic cigarettes "...delivered little to no nicotine and suppressed craving less effectively." The author called for further research and for the regulation of these products. House OKs bill to ban sale of nicotine candy The Utah House passed a bill Tuesday that would ban the sale of nicotine-laced candies. ... The House also stripped wording that would have banned electronic cigarettes, which turn a liquid into vapor to simulate smoking without producing toxic smoke. They are marketed as a smoking-cessation aid.Study: 'Electronic cigarettes' don't deliver Electronic cigarettes" that vaporize nicotine juice to inhale instead of smoke from burning tobacco do not deliver as promised, according to research at Virginia Commonwealth University. "They are as effective at nicotine delivery as puffing on an unlit cigarette," said Dr. Thomas Eissenberg, at the school's Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies. His study, funded by the federal National Cancer Institute, is the first by American doctors to check the function of so-called "no-smoke tobacco" devices . . . The latest clinical evidence suggests users are not getting the addictive substance they get from smoking tobacco. "These e-cigs do not deliver nicotine," Eissenberg said of the findings he expects to publish in an upcoming issue of the British Medical Journal. This past summer, Eissenberg recruited smokers without prior experience using e-cigarettes to volunteer to use two popular brands of the devices for a set period. The 16 subjects were regularly measured in a clinical setting for the presence of nicotine in their bodies, their reported craving for conventional cigarettes, and certain physiological effects such as a change in heart rate. "Ten puffs from either of these electronic cigarettes with a 16 mg nicotine cartridge delivered little to no nicotine," the study found. But the units may deliver hazardous chemicals, according to preliminary checks by federal regulators. ... E-Cig Circumvents State Smoking Ban Guilford County may have banned smoking from area bars and restaurants at the first of the year, but technology is giving county health officials and other anti-smoking advocates fits. "E-cigs" - also known as "electronic cigarettes" - are becoming the nicotine dispenser of choice now that smoking traditional cigarettes has been declared illegal in most public buildings. According to Guilford County Tobacco Prevention Coordinator Mary Gillett, the product can cause confusion when bar patrons light up their electronic cigarettes because, while it's not illegal to do so, anti-smokers at bars can get upset with the fact that people are apparently smoking. "They can do it the same way they can say, 'No shoes, no service,'" she said. Gillette said that, since the product is relatively new, there are a great deal of questions about the safety of the device and how it compares with cigarettes. . . . Lautenberg Applauds FDA's Decision To Keep Up Fight To Regulate Electronic ... Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), a longtime Senate leader in the fight against the tobacco industry, applauded the Food and Drug Administration's decision to continue their efforts to regulate electronic cigarettes. At Lautenberg's urging, the FDA is appealing a federal judge's ruling in the Smoking Everywhere case that the agency lacks the authority to regulate e-cigarettes as drug-device combinations. "There have been no clinical studies to verify the safety of these products or the long-term health effects. To the contrary, FDA's own laboratory analyses of electronic cigarette samples found them to contain carcinogens and toxins such as antifreeze components," Lautenberg wrote in a letter to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg. "I disagree with the decision in this case and support the FDA's position that electronic cigarettes are drug-device combinations." ... Electronic cigarette imports on hold A federal appeals court has put on hold a lower court ruling allowing electronic cigarettes to be imported. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit stayed a lower court order banning the U.S. Food and Drug Administration from seizing the devices when they enter the country. Electronic cigarettes, also known as "e-cigarettes," are devices that heat and vaporize small amounts of nicotine, the addictive substance in tobacco. They contain no tobacco, however. The FDA had seized shipments of e-cigarettes beginning in 2008 as illegal drug-delivery devices. ... FDA Appeals Electronic Cigarette Ruling WASHINGTON—The Food and Drug Administration is appealing a federal judge's ruling that the agency doesn't have the authority to regulate electronic cigarettes. The FDA on Monday night asked a federal appeals court in Washington to immediately stay an order that prevented the agency from blocking electronic cigarettes from entering the country. The FDA said it does have the authority to regulate some products containing nicotine as though they are drugs and devices, such as nicotine patches and nicotine lollipops. The agency said the judge was "quite wrong to believe that no injury would result from the use of these harmful and addictive products." The case is testing the reach of FDA's regulatory powers, and the agency and public health advocates have said it could have severe public health implications. ... Utah Legislature: Lawmakers take aim at tobacco products Lawmakers' ongoing "anti-tobacco nicky fit," as Utah smokers affectionately call the spate of prohibitions on almost anything with nicotine, will continue this week after stalling momentarily when a House committee realized that two bills are targeting the same nicotine-drenched product. Electronic cigarettes, which look like normal cigarettes but are smokeless and run on batteries that heat a capsule of nicotine in the mouthpiece into a vapor, are targeted directly by HB88 and also would be covered indirectly by a new "Nicotine Product Restriction Act" proposed by HB71. The former was approved and sent to the House consent calendar. But the bill would be redundant under the broader nicotine-product and flavored smokeless tobacco restrictions in HB71. . . . Some Utahns who fully endorse the effort to prohibit the sale of products containing nicotine that most kids can't tell from regular candy and mints say lawmakers ought to take a breath before restricting e-cigarettes. Mark Livingston, a private citizen who said he detests smoking, said e-cigarettes have been able to help family members get off regular cigarettes. ... Flouris, A.D.; Oikonomou, D.N., "Electronic cigarettes: miracle or menace?," British Medical Journal 340: 215, January 23, 2010. This January 2010 editorial stated that, to date, there had been only three studies conducted into the health effects of "...actively or passively smoking e-cigarettes." The authors summarized the findings of these three studies, one of which was funded by an electronic cigarette manufacturer. The authors concluded that, "To date, our knowledge about the acute and long term effects of e-cigarette use is, at best, very limited. The scarce evidence indicates the existence of various toxic and carcinogenic compounds, albeit in possibly much smaller concentrations than in traditional cigarettes. However, the quality control processes used in the manufacture of e-cigarettes seem to be largely unsuitable given the variability in the concentrations of compounds even in e-cigarettes of the same label. Thus the reports from the FDA, HNZ, and Demokritos cannot be used to draw any conclusions or inferences about potential eff ects on health. More rigorous chemical analyses are needed, followed by extensive research involving animal studies and, finally, clinical trials in humans. Until these crucial implementation stages are completed, physicians and other healthcare professionals must inform consumers of the probable fallaciousness of the claims of manufacturers of e-cigarettes." E-cigarettes not illegal in Abilene "The smoking ordinance indicates that an object has to be lit, and if there is no flame then it is not in violation of the smoking ordinance," James said. Smoking Everywhere, an importer of electronic cigarettes, sued the FDA last year after the agency blocked two shipments at Los Angeles International Airport amid claims that the cigarettes contain dangerous chemicals. ... E-Cigarette company faces legal fights on multiple fronts SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline)-Officials in California are making a strong push against one of the largest electronic cigarette retailers in the United States. It seems that the manufacturer -- Smoking Everywhere LLC -- is facing attack on at least two fronts in the Golden State: from the attorney general and a leading state lawmaker. State Attorney General Jerry Brown, a Democrat, is suing Smoking Everywhere, alleging that the Sunrise, Fla.-based company is targeting minors in its marketing and making "misleading and irresponsible" claims that its tar-free alternatives to traditional cigarettes are safe. "Smoking Everywhere launched a misleading and irresponsible advertising campaign targeting minors and claiming that electronic cigarettes do not contain harmful chemicals," Brown said. "We are asking the Court to take these cigarettes off the market until the company has proven the products are safe." For its part, Smoking Everywhere claims that their products, which come in a range of flavors including mint, strawberry and chocolate, are designed to replicate smoking without some of the harmful side-effects of a traditional cigarette. ... Scientists want more safety studies on e-cigarettes Greek researchers called on Wednesday for more safety studies into electronic cigarettes, saying scientific knowledge of them was "very limited". Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, were first made in China and are sold mostly on the Internet. The products are at the centre of a legal battle in the United States between manufacturers and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates drugs and which wants to stop e-cigarettes from being imported into the U.S. ... FDA can't block importing of 'electronic cigarettes' A federal judge ruled Thursday that the Food and Drug Administration may not block the importation of "electronic cigarettes," battery-powered versions of conventional smokes. . . . Leon, however, sided firmly with attorneys for the makers of e-cigarettes who argued that the product is just another type of a cigarette and not a drug or device subject to strict regulations. They said the FDA should treat e-cigarettes just like Marlboros or Camels. "We want people to smoke electronic cigarettes as long as they smoke regular cigarettes," said Kip Swartz, an attorney for Smoking Everywhere. "It's just another nicotine delivery system without combustion and without the tar." ... Judge OKs imports of e-cigarettes, blasts FDA A U.S. judge on Thursday granted a preliminary injunction barring the Obama administration from trying to regulate electronic cigarettes and prevent them from being imported into the United States. In a sharply worded decision, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon scolded the Food and Drug Administration for trying to assert jurisdiction over the cigarettes, which are battery-powered or rechargeable devices that vaporize a liquid nicotine solution. "This case appears to be yet another example of FDA's aggressive efforts to regulate recreational tobacco products as drugs or devices," he said in granting an injunction barring the FDA from regulating the cigarettes as a drug-device combination. . . . "This is a misguided and mind-boggling decision by the court," said National Research Center for Women & Families President Diana Zuckerman. "Nicotine is an addictive drug, and therefore e-cigarettes are a drug delivery system." A lawyer representing the companies said that he expected the FDA to appeal the decision, although he argued the judge anticipated many of the arguments the agency could make. The court noted that the other company in the case, NJOY, labeled its products with a disclaimer that they were not for smoking cessation. On its website, NJOY says one main reason people use the product is that it produces no smoke and can be used in some places where smoking is prohibited. ... SMOKING EVERYWHERE, INC. V. FDA (order) (PDF) For the reasons set forth in the Memorandum Opinion, it is this I day of January, 2010, hereby
FDA found that "'Smoking Everywhere E-Cigarette' and its component parts appear to be intended. . . to prevent, mitigate, or treat the withdrawal symptoms of nicotine addiction." (AR DET 97-98, 100-0 1). State sues electronic cigarettes retailer They look and may even taste like cigarettes, and their manufacturer claims they are a safe, tar-free alternative to the cancer-causing real thing. But California Attorney General Jerry Brown says that electronic cigarettes - also known as e-cigarettes - contain dangerous chemicals and are being inappropriately marketed to children, and that their makers have no evidence to support claims that the product is safe. On Wednesday, the state's top cop filed suit in Alameda Superior Court accusing Smoking Everywhere, one of the largest e-cigarette retailers in the United States, of violating a number of state laws by making misleading statements, failing to warn consumers of the product's potential harm and engaging in unfair business practices. A similar suit was filed against the same company by Oregon's attorney general last year. Brown wants the court to prohibit Smoking Everywhere from selling its product in California until the company produces evidence that e-cigarettes are safe. ... Brown Sues Electronic Cigarette Maker for Targeting Minors and Misleading Advertising Claims Oakland-Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today sued Florida-based electronic-cigarette retailer Smoking Everywhere to prevent the company from targeting minors and making "misleading and irresponsible" claims that electronic cigarettes are a safe alternative to smoking. "Smoking Everywhere launched a misleading and irresponsible advertising campaign targeting minors and claiming that electronic cigarettes do not contain harmful chemicals," Brown said. "We are asking the Court to take these cigarettes off the market until the company has proven the products are safe." Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, are battery-operated devices with nicotine cartridges designed to look and feel like conventional cigarettes. Instead of actual smoke, e-cigarettes produce a vapor from the nicotine cartridge that is inhaled by the user. Smoking Everywhere, one of the largest e-cigarette retailers in the United States, claims in its advertisements that the e-cigarettes have no carcinogens, no tar, no second-hand smoke, and are therefore safe and healthy. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that electronic cigarettes contain a variety of dangerous chemicals, including nicotine, carcinogens such as nitrosamines and, in at least one case, diethylene glycol, commonly known as antifreeze. Today's lawsuit seeks to prevent the company from selling its products until there is evidence to substantiate its claims that they are safe. The lawsuit will also require the products to display the state-mandated Proposition 65 warnings of ingredients known to cause cancer or reproductive harm and seeks to prevent the company from making false and misleading claims and promoting the products to minors. In one advertisement targeted to minors, Smoking Everywhere featured a video with radio show host Howard Stern claiming, "kids love ‘em." The products feature flavors that appeal to youth, including strawberry, chocolate, mint, banana and cookies-and-cream. ... To Vape or Not to Vape: Controversy Swirls Around E-Cigarettes If you haven't heard of vapers, vaping, or even "the right to vape," there's still a good chance you've heard of e-cigarettes. ... Beware of fake news online Ad in disguise Despite small disclaimers at top and bottom ("advertisement" and "not affiliated with any news publication"), this page at www.healthnews10.com looks like a news page. Instead, it's a pitch for tobacco-free electronic cigarettes. Don't think our logo is a plug. Far from praising e-cigarettes, Consumer Reports noted their drawbacks. NJ Senate Approves ‘E-Cigarette’ Restrictions The state Senate voted 38-0 Thurday to approve a bill to apply the provisions of the “New Jersey Smoke Free Air Act” to restrict the use of electronic smoking devices, commonly known as “e-cigarettes.” The bill (S-3053) would expand the definition of “smoking” to include e-cigarettes and extend the ban on smoking by minors to include the use of e-cigarettes. It would define smoking as the burning or inhaling of tobacco or any other matter than can be smoked or inhaled, or the inhaling of smoke or vapor from an electronic smoking device. “When a user puffs on an e-cigarette, which is a stainless steel tube designed to look like a real cigarette, they inhale a vaporized solution that usually contains nicotine,” Sen. Bob Gordon (D-Bergen) said. “The liquid often contains flavoring, such as chocolate or cherry. It seems obvious the people who make these devices are trying to make them attractive to younger people. ... NJ Poised to Ban E-Cigarettes in Public New Jersey is poised to become the second state to ban the use of e-cigarettes [e-cigs] in public places where smoking is already prohibited, with the New Jersey Senate set to vote today on a bill already passed unanimously by the Assembly. A primary purpose, says Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), the antismoking organization which supplied a detailed report supporting the bill, is to protect bystanders who otherwise are at possible risk from heart attacks, just like those inhaling secondhand tobacco smoke. It is estimated that secondhand tobacco smoke causes about 60,000 nonsmoker deaths a year, approximately 20 times as many As many studies have found, exposure to even small amounts of drifting tobacco smoke can trigger a heart attack in nonsmokers in as little as 30 minutes. Since a major cause of the heart attacks is nicotine, the main component of the vapor exhaled by e-cig users, those in the vicinity of e-smokers appear to be at similar risk. ... ash.org/30minutes NJ Assembly committee approves e-cigarette ban TRENTON -- Electronic cigarettes look like the real thing. And in New Jersey, lawmakers want to treat them the same way. That's why the Assembly voted unanimously Monday to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to people under 19, and prohibit adults from smoking them at work and in public places. The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee also gave unanimous backing to the legislation. E-cigarettes look like the actual cigarettes but don't contain tobacco. A metal tube with a battery heats up a nicotine solution allowing smokers to breathe in vapor. They have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, which in July issued an advisory the devices contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze. Assemblywoman Connie Wagner (D-Bergen), a sponsor, said she's concerned e-cigarettes are being marketed to children because they offer flavors like chocolate, banana and strawberry and could serve as a gateway to real cigarette use. ... Electronic cigarettes under fire for targeting Arizona kids PHOENIX - In a hidden camera investigation, the ABC15 Investigators found Arizona electronic cigarette kiosk salesmen selling their nicotine device to kids. It is not illegal. But, there is controversy over what the devices do to our bodies. Amir Hakak operates electronic cigarette kiosks in four Valley malls. He said the e-cigarette helps people kick the real habit. “It is the same as the patch or the gum. Actually, we add the vapor to it. The smoker gets the sensation, you feel you smoke; you trick the mind,” said Hakak. It closely resembles a real cigarette. It blows smoke and has nicotine, but has no tobacco. The vapor is actually water. It comes with a battery and filter in a variety of flavors. And, it contains nicotine which not only makes it addictive; it also makes it come under the scrutiny of the Food and Drug Administration. Last July, the FDA found dangerous chemicals in some electronic cigarettes they tested including diethylene glycol, a chemical used in antifreeze that is toxic to humans. So then why are these e-cigarettes sold in a variety of flavors at kiosks in the mall -- where teens regularly hangout? That's the question John Wickwire asked when his 17-year-old son came home from the mall. “He come (home) excited and saying, 'Oh yeah, there's this new thing. It's so cool. They have these flavors,' and I'm like, 'what is it?' Oh, it's this new kind of cigarette,” said Widkwire. “We think this is cutting edge,” said former Arizona congressman, Matt Salmon, who helped push through one of the first public smoking bans. He doesn't smoke, but has seen devastating effects of smoking on his family members. “Our product is marketed to long-term committed smokers who are killing themselves with combustible tobacco,” said Salmon. Today, Salmon leads the Electronic Cigarette Association with very specific rules: they don't make health claims, don't sell to minors, and say they shouldn't be sold at kiosks in the mall. And just like real cigarettes, they should not sell flavors targeting children. But, we found just the opposite. Using a hidden camera, we went to a "Smoking Everywhere" kiosk in the Arrowhead Mall in Glendale. Not only did the salesman make health claims saying the E-cigarette helps with influenza and pneumonia, but he sold it to our underage shopper. ... The Checkup - Is That Right? E-cigarettes are "the healthier alternative to smoking"? My first thought was that just about anything would be healthier (or, as I prefer, "more healthful") than smoking. And this e-cigarette, a battery-powered, plastic cigarette replica that allows you to inhale a nicotine vapor, sans tar and burnt matter, sounds like kind of a good idea. Made mostly in China and available freely to people of all ages via the Internet, e-cigarettes appear to be gaining in popularity. . . . In the meantime, I think a smarter New Year's resolution would be to hold off the e-cigs until we know more. What's your opinion of e-cigarettes? Have you tried them? Do they seem safe to you? ... Bill to combat e-cigarettes approved by New Jersey Assembly health committee Legislation proposed to prohibit the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors and include e-cigarettes in the state's Smoke Free Air Act, which prohibits smoking in indoor public places and workplaces, was unanimously approved Monday by an Assembly panel. Assemblywoman Connie Wagner (D-Bergen), a co-sponsor, said she's concerned e-cigarettes are being marketed to children because they offer flavors like chocolate, banana and strawberry and could serve as a gateway to real cigarette use. "These are dangerous devices and I want to make sure our children are protected," she said. "I'm very concerned that young people who use these things will get hooked on the nicotine and eventually move onto the real thing, opening the door to a lifetime of expensive and debilitating health problems." ... Electronic Cigarette Company In Negotiations With Philip Morris Philip Morris, the biggest maker of tobacco cigarettes in the US, has been discovered to be in talks with Ruyan Group, which manufactured the original electronic cigarette several years back in 2005. A news article found on Quamnet.com states the seriousness of the matter: "Ruyan Group said that an agreement between the Company and Philip Morris International Management S.A. could not be reached on matters relating to the co-operation between them on its "electronic cigarettes" by the end of the first and exclusive phase of negotiations." As the FDA has been given authority recently over the tobacco industry, the move by Philip Morris could be a carefully calculated move to gain controlling interest over the products inside the US and abroad. The motives of the manufacturer are not clear at this point, but many speculate everything from shutting the industry down by acquiring the rights to it all the way to quite possibly launching its own electronic cigarette product and taking it mainstream. . . . What this could mean for the electronic cigarette industry both internationally and in the US is uncertain, but what seems to be clear is: Philip Morris wants in. ... Twitter Brings Massive Traffic to Popular E Cigarette Company Many companies are aggressively marketing their sites through the Twitter medium while some companies seem to be benefiting from the service with no effort at all. There are a few sites and products on the internet that do not need some glam or slick marketing schemes to make use of Twitter. Just being what they are can create all of the buzz that is needed for a steady supply of visitors and consumers eager to get in on the craze. E Cigarettes National, a company that sells e-cigarettes out of Florida, has claimed that they are seeing a tremendous increase in traffic from the popular site. "At first, we thought it was just loyal clients telling neighbors, family, and friends about us," states Tiffany Ellis of E Cigarettes National. "But after further investigation, we came to the conclusion that it was people on Twitter spreading the word about our main site, our blog and press releases that we had put out in the past." ... Debate on public health - Our opinion: E-cigarettes pose risks All the public has to go on now is the word of the product's marketers. Before consumers inhale something that gives them "vapes" of highly addictive nicotine, they might want an independent authority testing the product to see what's in it. But soon after the Food and Drug Administration tried to assert its authority over e-cigarettes by detaining some shipments at the border, two distributors sued, claiming that the FDA has no power to regulate the product as a drug-delivery device. While both sides await a federal judge's ruling, e-cigarettes are on the market (kits with the e-cigarette and nicotine cartridges generally sell for $70 to $150). And contrary to the old adage, what you don't know can hurt you. Among the reasons to be wary: Despite protests from the Electronic Cigarette Association that its members don't make claims about helping smokers quit, plenty of sellers make far more outrageous health claims. In recent weeks, one marketer claimed e-cigarettes reduce the risk of heart disease and touted an endorsement by a physician-and-nurses group. Another website, which says it reviews e-cigarettes, went them one better: It claims, based on a 1942 study, that an ingredient in e-cigarettes could prevent flu and other respiratory diseases. It is conceivable e-cigarettes might be a valuable tool for weaning some smokers away from a deadly habit. But without the testing and clinical trials opposed by marketers and their allies, no one will ever know. Opposing view: A much-needed alternative By the time you're done reading this column, combustible tobacco smoking will claim four more American lives and a total of 440,000 lives this year. Electronic cigarettes battery-operated products that deliver an inhalable nicotine vapor offer a much needed alternative. . . . Electronic cigarettes are not drugs, nor are they sold to cure any disease or affliction. Therefore, the FDA has no authority to regulate or ban them as drug-delivery devices. But by attempting to mislabel them as medical devices, the FDA wants to force manufacturers to spend as much as $1.5 billion on clinical research, drug trials and FDA fees for potential marketplace approval. We are not large drug companies capable of this type of investment, and the FDA knows it. ... Electronic cigarettes not a safe alternative Debbie Mooney pestered her aunt for months to switch from regular cigarettes to the electronic, smokeless version. This way, Mooney reasoned, her aunt could still receive the nicotine she craved without exposing her family to the dangers of secondhand smoke. Then Mooney, a Shorewood resident and mother of a 12-year-old boy, changed her mind after reading the FDA warnings regarding electronic cigarettes, e-cigarettes A laboratory analysis of electronic cigarettes found samples of carcinogens, including nitrosamines, and a cocktail of toxic chemicals. One of them is diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze. Moreover, because no products have been submitted to the FDA for approval, the agency has no way to discern the cigarettes' levels of nicotine. In addition, some retailers produce flavored versions which, along with their ease of purchase (they can be purchased online and at some shopping malls) may appeal to young people. Others claim the e-cigarettes can be used for nicotine-replacement therapy, as a safe alternative to smoking and a means to beat smoking bans. ... Where There's Smokeless Cigarettes, There's Fire WASHINGTON -- USA Today reports that Electronic cigarettes are opening a new front in the tobacco wars as state and local lawmakers try to restrict the product, which may allow users to circumvent smoking bans. The battery-powered devices are made up of cartridges containing nicotine, flavoring and chemicals. They turn nicotine, which is addictive, into a vapor that is inhaled. Users say they're "vaping," not smoking. E-cigarettes are used by at least a half-million Americans, Matt Salmon, head of the Electronic Cigarette Association, Washington, told the newspaper. ... It appears that technology is so far advanced, even cigarettes have gone electronic. Instead of lighting up, some smokers are “vaping,” according to a USA Today report published last month. They've replaced regular cigarettes with smokeless e-cigarettes, which turn nicotine into a vapor that's inhaled. The electronic cigarettes are battery-powered with a cartridge that contains nicotine, flavoring and chemicals. Some smokers say the devices are helping them quit; others say e-cigarettes are healthier and less offensive to those around them. Opponents, however, question how safe the devices really are and argue that they're a means of circumventing smoking bans. The debate over these tiny vaporizers has grown quite large. At least four states, including New Hampshire, are considering or have already imposed restrictions on the sale or use of e-cigarettes. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is arguing that the devices they tested contained carcinogens. Currently, e-cigarettes do not fall under the jurisdiction of the FDA because they do not contain tobacco. But the agency believes it should have that authority to regulate them in much the same way it does other nicotine-based products such as patches and inhalers. The e-cigarette industry is fighting back. Several distributors have filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the FDA's authority, and the industry has formed its own lobbying group, the Electronic Cigarette Association, which estimates that a half-million Americans are now using the product. In our opinion, its ridiculous for this new industry to expect immunity from any kind of government regulation. While it's too early to say much about the health benefits or risks of e-cigarettes, the FDA should have the right to test and regulate any product that contains an addictive drug like nicotine. Period. ... Editorial: Smoking out e-cigarettes Introduced in the United States two years ago, electronic cigarettes are no longer a novelty item but a popular option for many smokers -- especially those who want to quit. Inhaling on the cigarette-shaped device activates a built-in battery, which heats up a mixture of water, nicotine and propylene glycol to give the "smoker" a vapor hit of the addictive substance found in cigarettes -- but without the smoke. It even lights up at the other end, mimicking the tip of a cigarette. E-cigarettes are the latest of a wave of nicotine-packing products -- including bottled water and lollipops -- to face the wrath of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency believes it has the authority to regulate them. But marketers of the electronic devices, most of which are made in China, are putting up a big fight. They have sued, arguing that the FDA has no jurisdiction over their merchandise because, unlike nicotine patches or gum, which the agency does regulate, it is not a smoking-cessation product. They also deny the FDA's contention that e-cigarettes are a drug-delivery device, which the agency also regulates. In their zeal to avoid regulation, though, spokesmen for this fast-growing business have been engaging in doublespeak. They argue that e-cigarettes are just a "smoking alternative," and in the same breath tout their superiority over gum or patches as a way to divert smokers from tobacco products. A kit costing $70 to $100 will last a pack-a-day smoker perhaps 10 days, according to the Electronic Cigarette Assn., and this year, U.S. sales are expected to reach $100 million. Is that a good thing or not? No one knows, which is why the FDA should have regulatory jurisdiction over the devices. E-cigarettes might help smokers quit by providing the long inhale -- and nicotine fix -- of smoking. Because the devices are smokeless, people could potentially light up at a restaurant or on an airplane without breaking any laws. But with their candy flavors and their image as relatively harmless, e-cigarettes provide a new way to hook customers -- including teenagers -- on nicotine. That could conversely lead to more smoking. Meanwhile, the long-term effects of breathing nicotine and propylene glycol haven't been determined -- not to mention diethylene glycol, an ingredient in antifreeze that the FDA has found in many e-cigarettes. The agency wants sales of the devices halted until, as with other drug products, animal studies and clinical trials determine whether they are indeed safe. We agree. ... Electronic Cigarettes Bypass Smoking Ban DALLAS - On Tuesday, Jonathan Hatcher took his first puff from an electronic cigarette. He said the tobacco-free device still gave him a high. "It gave me a good, relaxing nicotine feeling," Hatcher said. Tobacco Town started carrying the products a few months ago. They come with nicotine and without. Distributors say they're becoming more popular. "A lot of bars and restaurants are in favor of it actually," said Jim Jinright, an electronic cigarette supplier. Not all bars are smoke-free, but the trend is heading that direction. The Dallas ban took effect in April. "I've actually had to stop people a couple of times and say oh no, no, no. There's no smoking in here," said Nicole Strawbridge, a bartender at Al's Hideaway. Now many smokers have to go outside or find an alternative. 'You're more than welcome to bring your electronic cigarettes in here, feel free to light up, or turn it on or whatever," Strawbridge said. The assistant director for Dallas City Code Compliance says there's nothing about electronic cigarettes on the books, so they're not prohibited in bars. That could change, because he's asked the City Attorney whether the code should be updated. It's currently under advisement. It's also important to note opposition from health organizations. "Electronic cigarettes have not been adequately studied for safety. The flavored products may be popular with children instigating early addiction to nicotine," said the American Cancer Society in a press release. The FDA doesn't regulate them, but the agency warns of some samples showing traces of carcinogens and toxic chemicals, like ingredients used in anti-freeze. ... EDITORIAL: Smoke signals Public smoking bans -- very common now, even in live and let live Nevada -- are usually justified on health grounds. Children mustn't be subjected to the dangers of second-hand smoke, the argument goes, and adults who venture into public shouldn't have to put up with the stench and pollution associated with cigarette smoke. In addition, employees of places where patrons typically smoke -- bars, casinos, etc. -- deserve protection because many of them may have no real choice in their place of employment, the anti-tobacco crowd maintains. But ... What if somebody developed a smokeless cigarette? That would solve the problem, wouldn't it? No smelly, cough-inducing, eye-stinging cigarette smoke to bat away. No second-hand smoke danger to others. No stink clinging to clothes. Well ... "Electronic cigarettes are opening a new front in the tobacco war," USA Today reported Monday, "as state and local lawmakers try to restrict the product, which may allow users to circumvent smoking bans." ... Electronic Cigarette Users Now Have Forum to Review E-Cigarette Brands Electronic cigarettes are becoming so popular that some analysts predict that over the next ten years, approximately 40% of all smokers will buy electronic cigarettes online over the more conventional and harmful tobacco cigarettes. The industry has tripled in size in just a short 6 months and is likely to double again in the next 30 days. Thus, confusion has been expressed by consumers, "Which is the best brand? What's the difference between Type A and Type B... and what is Type C?" Recently a website was launched that gave a solution to the problem. ElectronicCigarettesReviews.net was created to provide e-cigarette smokers a chance to share their opinions about the e-cig brands they've tried out, and also a chance to offer feedback about company policy, ... Amazon Removes Electronic Cigarettes, but Sales Increase Online PR News – 14-October-2009 – e-cigarette Direct.com Sees Increase in Sales As Amazon.com Removes Electronic Cigarettes We are writing because it has come to our attention that you have listed a product that we have determined is inappropriate for Amazon.com. We have prohibited the sale of electronic cigarettes, electronic cigars, electronic pipes, nicotine nebulizers, refill material for any of these, and similar products on our site. Paypal has already canceled electronic cigarette accounts after receiving a notice of potential legal liability from ASH. ... Schwarzenegger vetos bills prohibiting smoking on hospital grounds and sale of e-cigarettes On October 11, Governor Schwarzeneggar vetoed Assembly Bill 574 which would have banned smoking on hospital grounds. He commented that hospitals have their own authority to prohibit smoking as the reason for his veto. Schwarzeneggar also vetoed Senate Bill 400, which would have banned the sale of electronic cigarettes as well. He cited pending litigation as his reason for a veto. ... Cheap Electronic Cigarettes To Open New Call Centre To Handle ... The Electronic Future of Smoking This week, Ryanair (the preferred budget airline of most every European student) announced they will start selling no-smoke cigarettes on flights. The cleverly named "Similar Smokeless Cigarettes" aren't precisely the same as the vaporizer-based electronic version, but there's nothing like a planeful of folks sucking on something that resembles a cigarette to bring smoking back to the mainstream. . . . Fans, meanwhile, have latched onto every imaginable tack, from the green angle (fewer butts!), to the conspiracy (Big Tobacco is keeping them down!), to a bound-to-backfire defense of e-cigs' smoking cessation potential (nicotine gum and the like is regulated by the FDA). The last boasts defenders in high places. In April, there was a small congressional brouhaha of sorts after one senator called for a ban until the FDA could verify the device's safety and another fought back insisting no action should be taken, that they were effective means of quitting smoking. Which leaves the two sides at a stalemate. The fallout of the FDA's report, despite the fairly benign findings, has been a predictable groundswell of political fervor. Connecticut's attorney general has issued a warning, Oregon's has filed a lawsuit, one county in Long Island has voted to ban them. Facebook has banned ads, PayPal has cracked down and just last week Amazon reportedly announced to merchants their sale was prohibited. The manufacturers are fighting back, and the fans are rallying, and only time will tell which side will win. Likely, the makers will cave and start submitting for regulation, the e-smokers will grumble about Big Tobacco and nanny states, and within a few years no one will blink at a smoker puffing away at a cigarette that needs to be charged. ... European Airline Brings Back the Smoking Section For those who fear the old days when the difference between the smoking section on an airplane and the non-smoking section was simply whichever way the air was flowing inside the cabin, the smokeless cigarettes do not emit any toxins or chemicals to nearby passengers. Company spokesman Stephen McNamara believes when smokers can get their nicotine, everybody wins, “as these cigarettes are smokeless, they cause no discomfort to other passengers and can ensure a more enjoyable and stress-free flight for all passengers as non-smokers will no longer have to cope with moody smokers in need of nicotine.” ... Electronic Cigarettes Find Fans, but Most Want Regulation A strong majority of Americans want to see electronic cigarettes regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (59%), but nearly half (47%) say the smokeless devices should be an option available to people trying to quit smoking, similar to patches, gum and lozenges currently on the market, and that number increases to 57% among those who have heard about ecigarettes prior to taking the poll. The Zogby Interactive poll of 4,611adults was conducted August 28-31 and carries a margin of error of /- 1.5 percentage points. Margins of error are higher in sub groups. In the hunt for a safer cigarette, electronic cigarettes, often referred to as ecigarettes, are becoming a popular option among those either trying to quit or who are looking to replace standard tobacco smokes with an alternative that manufacturers claim to be safer. Ecigarettes vaporize a solution often containing nicotine, but there is no smoke, just odorless water vapor, and produce almost no dangerous carcinogens. Almost half of all respondents (48%) say they have heard of electronic cigarettes. About a third of those polled (35%) say that because electronic cigarettes produce no smoke, they should be allowed in places where smoking is currently prohibited, while about half (46%) say they should not. ... VIDEO: Officials target electronic smoking devices "Smoke in taxis" flashes across a flat-screen television at the unambiguously named Smoking Everywhere kiosks. "Smoke at sporting events. Smoke at the movies. Smoke at the office." To bring the message home, a salesman at Westfield Garden State Plaza took a drag and blew three perfectly formed rings toward shoppers strolling out of J.C. Penney. According to the product's marketers, that substance may look like cigarette smoke, but it's as harmless as water vapor. It's almost completely odorless, they say, and it dissipates in seconds. But some North Jersey health officials aren't convinced. Buoyed by a recent Federal Drug Administration study that found electronic cigarettes may contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals -- including diethylene glycol, a substance found in antifreeze -- state and local officials have issued warnings about using them or leaving them where they can be reached by children. Paramus health officials said they are alarmed by reports of people using electronic cigarettes at Westfield Garden State Plaza and are considering a ban on the use of e-cigarettes in indoor public places or work environments, just like regular cigarettes. It would be one of the first bans of its kind in the country. "The safety of these things cannot be assured," said Paramus Health Department Director John Hopper. "Our concern is the effect to the non-smoking public who may be breathing the vapors of these things -- because they do give off vapors -- in public places." . . . Darnell White, who owns Smoking Everywhere franchises at the Westfield Garden State Plaza and Palisades Center malls and sells electronic cigarettes online at smokingeverywhere.biz, defended his company, saying it refuses to sell to children under 18 and claiming the product keeps people from smoking traditional cigarettes. "Anything that gets people away from regular cigarettes is a plus in my book," said White, himself a non-smoker. "At the end of the day, this product has helped hundreds of people to stop smoking." . . . But smokeless cigarette distributors say the agency has overstepped its authority. Smoking Everywhere sued the FDA in April after the agency seized several of its shipments. As for Paramus' possible smoking ban, White says he won't let it pass without a fight. "The name of the company is Smoking Everywhere," he said. "Everywhere means the malls also." Electronic Cigarette Blog Now Reviewing Top Selling Electronic Cigarette Products The electronic cigarette blog is now reviewing the top selling electronic cigarettes on the web and serving its loyal readers the latest industry news as it happens. They are using a system that judges electronic cigarettes based on their aesthetics and appearance, battery life, ease of use, customization and accessories, vapor production, nicotine cartridge life, and an overall summary that highlights the pros and cons of each product reviewed. With so many options available, it can be hard for a first time buyer to know which products are worth the money and which ones to avoid. The Electronic Cigarette blog aims to demystify the learning and buying process by educating its readers on what to look for and when to stay away. "Will electronic cigarettes help me to quit smoking?" Smokefree Innotec, Inc. Retains International Law Firm With ... NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(Business Wire)-- Smokefree Innotec, Inc. C.E.O., Thomas Schroepfer, stated that, "With the FDA now beginning to assert authority over all electronic cigarettes and having seen the turmoil involving other companies in the electronic cigarette business, we are pleased to have Ashley L. Taylor, Jr. and Bryan M. Haynes, both of whom are partners in the Richmond, Virginia office of Troutman Sanders LLP, to advise our Company. Mr. Taylor and Mr. Haynes are based in the heart of the United States cigarette industry and both have extensive expertise in the legal issues of the cigarette industry and government regulation of the industry. They will be of great assistance to our launch of the World's first, totally smoke-free, About Smokefree Innotec, Inc. ... Department of Defense weighs in on testing e-cigarette usage It's hard to miss the onslaught of ads for a new ''fantastic, risk-free, clean, and absolutely amazing" invention that lets people continue to smoke without all the dangers of smoking. It sounds too good to be true, but electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) manufacturers brazenly advertise their product as the first healthy cigarette, free of the harmful chemicals and tar typically found in tobacco products, and compare them to the nicotine patch. One of the product's largest distributors has stated that they are ''pretty sure" e-cigarettes are safe. . . . Capt. David Arday, a U.S. Public Health Service physician and chairman of the Department of Defense (DoD) Alcohol and Tobacco Advisory Committee, responded, ''I strongly caution service members to avoid e-cigarettes, and to instead choose to make a commitment to give up all tobacco products. Substituting a product designed to keep you hooked on nicotine and that the FDA has legitimate safety concerns about is not the answer. And we know from research that nicotine is as addictive as heroin." Other members of the medical and scientific community have voiced their concerns. ''Nicotine is not the thing in tobacco smoke that causes cancer, but inhaling pure nicotine may be dangerous," said Dr. Steven Schroeder, a physician and smoking cessation expert at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center. ... Kroger sues e-cigarette company, settles with others Oregon Attorney General John Kroger on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against a Florida-based "electronic cigarette" company over allegations it targeted children with false health claims. The lawsuit alleges Smoking Everywhere has marketed its e-cigarettes as safe and harmless, although the company has not provided evidence the products are safe, according to Kroger. E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that provides inhaled doses of nicotine by delivering a vaporized liquid nicotine solution. "It's my duty to protect the public from products that are falsely advertised as safe," Kroger said. ... Blumenthal Pledges Fight For A Ban On E-Cigarettes State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal called on consumers and retailers Tuesday to avoid electronic cigarettes, discounting claims that the devices are safer than real cigarettes. The e-cigarettes, as they are known, are powered by batteries and produce a mist containing nicotine and propylene glycol, an organic compound. Users inhale the mist, satisfying their craving for nicotine. "I will vigorously fight to ban e-cigarettes, unless approved by FDA, and any attempt to retail the devices in Connecticut, as well as work with federal authorities to regulate Internet sales," Blumenthal said at a press conference in Hartford. He cited the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's finding last month that two brands of e-cigarettes, Smoking Everywhere and NJoy, contain known carcinogens. An antifreeze ingredient, diethylene glycol, was found in a Smoking Everywhere cartridge. ... Lawyers Ask Judge to Lift Ban on Electronic Cigarettes Lawyers for electronic cigarette distributors told a federal judge on Monday that their clients do not market their products as a way to quit smoking, and that the Food and Drug Administration was acting like "a dog chasing its own tail" as it tried to explain why it was barring shipments of the devices into the United States. Appearing Monday afternoon at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, attorneys for Smoking Everywhere and NJoy asked Judge Richard Leon for a preliminary injunction that would lift the FDA's embargo on their products. The companies sued the FDA in April, claiming the agency had erroneously classified e-cigarettes as unapproved drug devices, and banned imports of them into the states. . . . Thompson Hine partner Kip Schwartz, representing Smoking Everywhere, told the judge that the law made it clear that that the FDA was in the wrong. The act created a new regulatory category for tobacco-based products, he said. E-cigarettes couldn't be regulated as drug devices, he said, because the companies did not claim their product improved users' health, or affected the body any differently than smoking a normal cigarette. Schwartz was particularly insistent that e-cigarettes were not marketed as a way for users to get off nicotine. "We don't want people weaned off the e-cigarette," Schwartz said. "We want them smoking it as long as they smoked regular cigarettes." ... Suffolk lawmakers vote to ban e-cigs in public spaces The 12-1 vote, with four abstentions, puts the so-called e-cigarettes on par with traditional cigarettes, barring their use in Suffolk's indoor public spaces. "This vote signals that our local government will not hesitate to take steps to protect the next generation of Suffolk residents from the newest health risks," said the bill's sponsor, Legis. Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor). . . . Also Tuesday, Oregon Attorney General John Kroger sued to stop a Florida company from selling electronic cigarettes in his state. He accused the company, Smoking Everywhere, of making false claims and targeting unsafe products to children. County Executive Steve Levy is "inclined to look favorably" on the bill, said spokesman Dan Aug. ... Electronic Cigarette Association Urges Congress to Make E-Cigarettes Illegal to Those Under the Legal Smoking Age In a letter sent to Congressional members on August 14, the Electronic Cigarette Association (ECA) criticized the recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) study on electronic cigarettes as it failed to follow standard scientific protocols and was too narrow in scope. In addition, the letter called on Congress to enact legislation that would make it illegal to sell electronic cigarettes to those below the legal age of smoking. "Our products are not intended for those under the legal smoking age. We are extremely careful to market only to committed, adult smokers looking to avoid the toxins found in combustible cigarettes. We would like to see legislation that will back up our efforts in restricting sales to those underage," said ECA President Matt Salmon. The letter called on Congress to urge the FDA to conduct further studies on electronic cigarettes and to take a more scientific approach, follow standard protocols for proper study design, to include a significant sample of products on the market, and to study the potential for giving smokers an alternative that reduces the known risks found in traditional cigarettes until they can make the commitment to quit. "We readily acknowledge the health risks of cigarette smoking and advocate smokers to quit. However, we recognize the struggles many have in quitting and offer an alternative to adult smokers who want to avoid the toxins found in cigarettes. The more than 1 million users of electronic cigarettes also like the fact that they can use these products in the workplace and in public without violating any laws or policies and not annoy or expose non-smokers to tobacco smoke," said Salmon. ... Ore. AG, NY county move to block e-cigarette sales The state of Oregon has gone to court to block the sale of electronic cigarettes on the same day that a New York county banned their sale to minors. Oregon Attorney General John Kroger and Jon Cooper, majority leader of the Suffolk County Legislature on Long Island, N.Y., said Tuesday the lawsuit and the ban are both the first of their kind in the nation. Electronic cigarettes are battery-powered devices typically made out of plastic designed to look like a traditional cigarette, including a light that simulates its glow. But instead of tobacco that burns and creates smoke, the "e-cigarettes" use a heating element to vaporize water mixed with ingredients in a disposable cartridge, which can include liquid nicotine. ... E-cigarette company suspends sales in Oregon An electronic cigarette manufacturer announced Tuesday it would voluntarily stop selling its products in Oregon, the same day the state sued to keep a Florida company's e-cigarettes off the shelves. NJOY will temporarily suspend sales of its products in the state in order to "facilitate discussions" with Oregon Attorney General John Kroger, according to a press release from the company. SmokingEverywhere.com The announcement came on the same day Kroger had sued to block sales of e-cigarettes by Smoking Everywhere, which made false health claims about nicotine and targeted children with sweet flavors such as bubblegum and chocolate, according to the state's lawsuit. ... Smokefree Innotec, Inc. Entering South American Markets Smokefree Innotec, Inc. (Pink Sheets: SFIO) ( www.sfio.us or www.smokefree-innotec.com) announced today that it will sign a contract tomorrow in Houston, TX, with Osvaldo Glatt, President of LTI News Industries of Buenos Aires, for the marketing and distribution of Real Smokefree in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile. Other clients of LTI News Industries include Danon Argentina, Brahama beers from Brazil and a Disney Venezuela joint venture with Motorola. Thomas Schroepfer, C.E.O. of Smokefree Innotec, Inc., stated, "Osvaldo Glatt has expressed interest in the World's first, totally smoke-free, electronic cigarette from the beginning. His firm has a reputation for establishing novel products in South America. Seeing the marketing ideas that Mr. Glatt developed for Grey Goose vodka and other clients, tells us that his brand building experience makes him the right man to establish a leading market position in the territory." Signing the contracts with LTI News Industries establishes the presence of Real Smokefree on four continents. ... “Cash for Cigarettes” Program Announced in Response to Struggling Economy Crown7.com, a leading electric cigarette manufacturer, announced today it is helping smokers making the switch to a smoking alternative by offering 35% off to those who trade in traditional cigarettes for a Crown7 HYDRO. In response to global smoking bans and stricter tobacco laws, electric cigarettes have become increasingly popular in replicating the act of smoking, using a nicotine cartridge, a microchip and a water vapor mist. Instead of second-hand smoke, a water vapor mist is dispersed without the effects of second-hand smoke from traditional cigarettes, and it is permissible in all public places where smoking is now banned. "The Cash for Cigarettes program is helping consumers get their hands on a more affordable option than traditional cigarettes," said Ron MacDonald, founder and CEO of Crown7. "The best thing about electric cigarettes is a consumer can now smoke anywhere and anytime they wish, including indoors, with an electric cigarette at an affordable price." ... Smokeless "E-cigarette" Makers and FDA in Court Today One state has already banned e-cigarettes, the battery-powered tobacco-free smoking tubes. This week, two distributors of the products challenge the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in federal court for confiscating product shipments from China; the FDA says they are dangerous. . . . The federal district court will be asked to decide whether e-cigarettes should be classified as tobacco or as nicotine products. If they are classified as nicotine, then the FDA says they should be treated just like any smoking cessation aid and should be subject to federal regulation and testing. The manufacturers want the court to classify e-cigarettes as tobacco products, to be more loosely regulated. The Electronic Cigarette Association, which represents the distributors, claims e-cigarettes deliver a harmless mixture of nicotine and water vapor. The Upper Midwest District includes Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North and South Dakota. ... Suffolk poised to vote on limiting e-cigarettes Suffolk County lawmakers will consider a bill placing restrictions on electronic cigarettes on Tuesday, Aug. 18. While not banning their use outright, Legislator Jon Cooper's bill would place prohibit their sale to anyone under the age of 19 and ban their use in restaurants, bars and other public places where traditional forms of smoking are already disallowed. California lawmaker seeks adults-only restriction on smokeless 'cigarettes' Sidestepping laws against smoking in public, Californians now can puff nicotine without lighting up from "cigarettes" that contain no tobacco. Electronic cigarettes are touted as a way to smoke anywhere, anytime, without harmful tar, odor, butts, flame or secondhand smoke. "No one can tell you 'No' anymore," claims one e-cigarette company, Smoking Everywhere, which describes its product as looking, feeling and tasting like a "real" cigarette. But using high technology to satisfy smokers' cravings is sparking a backlash from some California lawmakers, largely because e-cigarettes are not regulated and can be sold to minors. State Sen. Ellen Corbett has introduced Senate Bill 400 to allow only adults to purchase e-cigarettes, which produce a nicotine vapor and come in flavors that might appeal to youth. "Just because there's a new technology, why would you make nicotine available to young people when you don't normally?" the San Leandro Democrat said. . . . The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, in a letter to Corbett, said its public health department has received "multiple reports of teens being offered e-cigarettes at local mall kiosks." The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that e-cigarettes could be a gateway that leads youth to try tobacco products. But Matt Salmon, a former Arizona congressman who runs the Electronic Cigarette Association, representing about a dozen firms, said that members are committed not to sell to minors. "I just think it's common sense that you don't want kids hooked on nicotine..." Smokefree Innotec, Inc. Forms Subsidiary in Belgium NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug 05, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) ----Smokefree Innotec, Inc. (Pink Sheets: SFIO: undefined, undefined, undefined%) (www.sfio.us or www.smokefree-innotec.com) announced today that it has formed a wholly-owned subsidiary in Antwerp, Belgium, Smokefree Innotec PvbA. Thomas Schroepfer, President of Smokefree Innotec, Inc., stated, "Antwerp is a strategic city in the European Union and is in close proximity to our distributor in the Benelux countries, which consists of Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxemburg. Antwerp also has an international harbor and is easily reached by a number of international airlines." Mr. Schroepfer went on to say, "Forming this subsidiary in the European Union is one more crucial step we are taking to ensure the success of our product test marketing in several countries, including Belgium. With a final redesign of our filters completed, our filter manufacturer has just advised us that new molds for the production of the filters are being made. When the new molds are available, actual production of our 'Hi-Tec' cigarette will commence, followed by the test marketing program, which we now anticipate will occur in late August or early September." ... Electronic cigarettes set for battle with FDA Electronic cigarettes don't contain tobacco or tar, but a South Florida company is fighting for its high-tech substitutes to be identified as tobacco products. Why struggle to be grouped with a product vilified for killing millions of people each year? At least for Smoking Everywhere Inc., it's a step up from having its product regulated as a drug. Smoking Everywhere distributes e-cigarettes, which can't be lit and don't have tobacco. They are battery-operated and contain cartridges filled with nicotine, flavor and other chemicals. The steel tube that is made to look like a cigarette turns nicotine and water into a vapor that is inhaled. The FDA has not approved e-cigarettes as safe and has seized shipments being imported into the country. . . . No matter how the companies market the product, e-cigarettes deliver nicotine, so the FDA has the authority to regulate them, Leon said. "A regular cigarette has no therapeutic value. ... It's not designed to provide a health benefit. It's quite the opposite ," Linscott said. David Drobes, a researcher who works in the Tobacco Research and Intervention Program at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, said that if e-cigarettes are not regulated now, the public may regret it later. ... Saudi Arabia to curb 'e-cigarettes' The ministries of trade and industry and health as well as various authorities concerned in Saudi Arabia are studying ways to curb the entry of banned electronic cigarette devices, also known as "e-cigarettes", into the kingdom. The move comes after the issuance of a warning on the use of these devices by the US Food and Drug Administration, . . . Advertisers and marketers of the device have been falsely claiming that it is a successful method to quit smoking, and have sometimes used the World Health Organisation's logo on the devices' packs. Saudi Arabia is one of the leading countries that have banned the sale of "e-cigarettes" because of the harm the devices cause. ... Ryanair allowing passengers to puff on 'smokeless' cigarettes during flights Ryanair is allowing passengers to puff on "smokeless" cigarettes during flights. Cabin staff on short-haul services sell the devices - which can be legally smoked in public places - at £6 for a pack of 10. . . . A passenger said: "The stewards were brandishing the packs as they walked down the aisle. No one bought any." Martin Dockrell, from Action on Smoking and Health, said: "Our concern with these products is that there isn't much evidence as to their safety." ... Oregon AG settlement blocks e-cigarette sales EDITORIAL: Puffing on antifreeze a poor alternative to cigarettes If you're looking for a safe alternative to smoking, you'd be wise to skip the electronic cigarette - unless inhaling a toxic, bubble gum-flavored component of antifreeze sounds yummy. . . . The Electronic Cigarette Association, a trade group representing manufacturers, says the FDA's tests of devices marketed by Arizona-based NJoy and Florida-based Smoking Everywhere were too limited to reach "any valid and reliable conclusions." But, tellingly, the industry is reluctant to submit its products for safety approval, arguing that the agency doesn't have jurisdiction. Numerous U.S. health groups have issued warnings against e-cigarettes. . . . Whether it's possible to produce a safe e-cigarette remains an open question. But the FDA's recent tests indicate there are dangerous versions on the market. They, at the very least, should be yanked from store shelves. ... Small Good News: Bringing Big Tobacco To Its Battery-Powered Knees In the name of transparency, yes, my late father lit one cigarette off the end of another from the time he was twelve until nine months before he died of lung cancer at sixty-five, so, no, I am not objective when it comes to tobacco. On the other hand, the companies that push nicotine make it so easy for me to vent; over 40 years after the first health warnings, they're still looking for ways to build their customer base, still dismissing the latest research, still pursuing my lovely, clean-breathing daughter, all of her friends, and all of their younger siblings. The latest gimmick is the electronic cigarette. Yes, the bipolar tobacco industry, which pretends it wants you to stop smoking even as it invents new ways to keep people hooked, has invented a plastic tube that looks like a cigarette, delivers nicotine like a cigarette, and runs on a battery--supposedly to keep the user from inhaling some less life-affirming ingredients. Companies with names like NJoy and Smoking Everywhere say that a customer gets water vapor, nicotine and propylene glycol, and not much else. Think of it as a kinder, gentler cigarette. Even though the Food and Drug Administration found that some of the nineteen varieties of cartridges it analyzed happened also to hold nitrosamines, which cause cancer. Even though one cartridge contained diethlyene glycol, an ingredient found in your car's anti-freeze. Even though the darned things are produced in, yep, China, home of lead-paint toys and other examples of questionable quality control. Even though flavored varieties include cherry and bubblegum, and would you like to guess what age group the marketing gurus are pursuing with those? The glimmer of hope, here, is that the FDA has decided that these little gizmos qualify as drug delivery devices, and as such should not be allowed in the U.S. The dark side is that our beloved internet knows no physical boundaries, so products we turn away at our physical borders still show up online, and then in our mailboxes. And of course there's a tussle brewing over whether seizures are even legal, so in the meantime the techno-smokes continue to show up in malls, where your kids sometimes hang out with money in their pockets and no parental supervision. ... Health Ministry Bans Electronic Cigarettes The Health Ministry has banned electronic cigarettes, both the import and use of those previously brought into the country. The product is marketed as an aid to help smokers stop smoking. The move comes in the wake of a health warning by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the product. The FDA did not ban their sale or use, however. The Israeli Health Ministry decision, which came out Tuesday, covers both the import and sale of the product, including those that are marketed as nicotine-free. ... Analysis Finds Toxic Substances in Electronic Cigarettes Electronic cigarettes contain traces of toxic substances and carcinogens, according to a preliminary analysis of the products by the Food and Drug Administration. The findings, which were announced on Wednesday, contradict claims by electronic cigarette manufacturers that their products are safe alternatives to tobacco and contain little more than water vapor, nicotine and propylene glycol, which is used to create artificial smoke in theatrical productions. When heated, the liquid produces a vapor that users inhale through the battery-powered device. "We're concerned about them because of what we know is in them and what we don't know about how they affect the human body," said Joshua Sharfstein, the F.D.A.'s principal commissioner. The agency analyzed 19 varieties of cartridges, which hold the liquid, and two cigarettes, one manufactured by NJoy and another by Smoking Everywhere. ... FDA and Public Health Experts Warn About Electronic Cigarettes The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that a laboratory analysis of electronic cigarette samples has found that they contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze. Electronic cigarettes, also called “e-cigarettes,” are battery-operated devices that generally contain cartridges filled with nicotine, flavor and other chemicals. The electronic cigarette turns nicotine, which is highly addictive, and other chemicals into a vapor that is inhaled by the user. These products are marketed and sold to young people and are readily available online and in shopping malls. In addition, these products do not contain any health warnings comparable to FDA-approved nicotine replacement products or conventional cigarettes. They are also available in different flavors, such as chocolate and mint, which may appeal to young people. ... Summary of Results: Laboratory Analysis of Electronic Cigarettes Conducted By FDA FDA conducted a preliminary analysis on some samples of electronic cigarettes and components from two leading brands. Due to the variability among products, this analysis should not be used to draw conclusions about what substances are or are not present in particular electronic cigarettes or brands of electronic cigarettes. FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation, Office of Compliance purchased two samples of electronic cigarettes and components from two leading brands. These samples included 18 of the various flavored, nicotine, and no-nicotine cartridges offered for use with these products. These cartridges were obtained in order to test some of the ingredients contained in them and inhaled by users of electronic cigarettes. ... Concerns Voiced by the Public Health Experts About Electronic Cigarettes No Demonstrated Public Health Benefit Marketing of E-Cigarettes May Appeal to Young People Electronic Cigarettes FDA notified healthcare professionals and patients that a laboratory analysis of electronic cigarette samples has found that they contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze. Electronic cigarettes, also called “e-cigarettes,” are battery-operated devices that generally contain cartridges filled with nicotine, flavor and other chemicals. The electronic cigarette turns nicotine, which is highly addictive, and other chemicals into a vapor that is inhaled by the user. These products are marketed and sold to young people and are readily available online and in shopping malls. They are also available in different flavors, such as chocolate and mint, which may appeal to young people. The FDA’s Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis analyzed the ingredients in a small sample of cartridges from two leading brands of electronic cigarettes. In one sample, the FDA’s analyses detected diethylene glycol, a chemical used in antifreeze that is toxic to humans, and in several other samples, the FDA analyses detected carcinogens, including nitrosamines. These products do not contain any health warnings comparable to FDA-approved nicotine replacement products or conventional cigarettes. Because these products have not been submitted to the FDA for evaluation or approval, at this time the agency has no way of knowing, except for the limited testing it has performed, the levels of nicotine or the amounts or kinds of other chemicals that the various brands of these products deliver to the user. Health care professionals and consumers may report serious adverse events (side effects) or product quality problems with the use of e-cigarettes to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail, fax or phone. ... FDA considers ways to short-circuit electronic cigarettes The Food and Drug Administration, recently granted the authority to regulate tobacco as a drug, is taking aim at electronic cigarettes -- battery-powered cigarette look-alikes that deliver nicotine and produce a puff of odorless vapor. Tests show that e-cigarettes contain "known carcinogens and toxic chemicals," including diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze, officials announced Wednesday during a teleconference. The FDA notes that the products have no warning labels. Over the past year, the FDA has seized 50 shipments of e-cigarettes, which the agency considers to be combination drug/medical devices, says the FDA's Michael Levy. Companies were marketing the products illegally, because they hadn't gotten FDA approval for new drugs or medical devices, says Joshua Sharfstein, principal deputy commissioner of the FDA. The FDA is reviewing the new tobacco law and considering a range of enforcement actions, which could include recalls or even criminal sanctions, Levy says. E-cigarette makers say their products can be used anywhere and don't produce secondhand smoke. In April, one maker, Smoking Everywhere, filed a federal lawsuit against the FDA, claiming the agency doesn't have the jurisdiction to regulate its products. ... FDA: E-Cigarettes Bad, but Not Banned The FDA today warned Americans not to use electronic cigarettes -- but did not ban the sale of the smoke-free devices. E-cigarettes and similar products are sold online and in scores of mall kiosks across the U.S. They deliver nicotine in a puff of hot gas that feels like smoke; nicotine-free versions are also sold. Now the FDA has tested two of the devices: the Smoking Everywhere and Njoy products. "The products we reviewed so far we found to be illegal," attorney Michael Levy, director of the FDA's office of compliance in the division of drug evaluation and research, said today during an FDA news conference. But the FDA has not banned them because "There is pending litigation on the issue of FDA's jurisdiction over e-cigarettes," Levy said. Why call a news conference? "We felt it important that while there is litigation and we are considering options, there is no reason to be confused about FDA's position on this issue," Joshua Sharfstein, MD, FDA principal deputy commissioner, said. All but one cartridge marked as having no nicotine actually contained the addictive substance. Cartridges marked as having low, medium, or high amounts of nicotine actually had varying amounts of nicotine. One of the cartridges contained a toxic antifreeze ingredient, diethylene glycol. The devices emitted "tobacco-specific nitrosamines which are human carcinogens." The devices emitted "tobacco-specific impurities suspected of being harmful to humans." ... Cigarettes Without Smoke, or Regulation FALL RIVER, Mass. — During 34 years of smoking, Carolyn Smeaton has tried countless ways to reduce her three-pack-a-day habit, including a nicotine patch, nicotine gum and a prescription drug. But stop-smoking aids always failed her. Then, having watched a TV infomercial at her home here, Ms. Smeaton tried an electronic cigarette, which claimed to be a less dangerous way to feed her addiction. The battery-powered device she bought online delivered an odorless dose of nicotine and flavoring without cigarette tar or additives, and produced a vapor mist nearly identical in appearance to tobacco smoke.“I feel like this could save my life,” said Ms. Smeaton, 47, who has cut her tobacco smoking to a pack and a half daily, supplemented by her e-cigarette. That electronic cigarettes are unapproved by the government and virtually unstudied has not deterred thousands of smokers from flocking to mall kiosks and the Internet to buy them. And because they produce no smoke, they can be used in workplaces, restaurants and airports. One distributor is aptly named Smoking Everywhere. ... Controversy Swirls Around E-Cigarettes Federal regulators and antismoking groups are taking steps that could snuff out electronic cigarettes, the smokeless nicotine products embraced by a growing number of people trying to kick the habit or avoid bans on smoking in public. Electronic cigarettes typically consist of a metal tube containing an atomizer, a battery and a cartridge filled with liquid nicotine. When a user sucks on an e-cigarette, a light-emitting diode causes the tip to glow and the atomizer turns the liquid nicotine into a vapor -- thus it is called vaping instead of smoking. The vapor can be inhaled and then exhaled, creating a cloud that resembles cigarette smoke but dissipates more quickly and doesn't have the lingering odor. The American Lung Association, along with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Heart Association and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, recently called for e-cigarettes to be removed from the market. The groups say e-cigarettes have yet to be proven safe and that kids may be attracted to the products, some of which come in flavors like chocolate and strawberry. "Nobody knows what the consumers are actually inhaling," says Erika Sward, director of national advocacy at the American Lung Association. ... Laugesen, M., "Safety Report on the Ruyan® e-cigarette Cartridge and Inhaled Aerosol," Christchurch, New Zealand: Health New Zealand Ltd., October 30, 2008. |
