E-cigarettes 'should be banned'

[Posted: Thu 09/12/2010 by Deborah Condon www.irishhealth.com]

Electronic cigarettes should be banned until safety concerns about them have been addressed, US researchers have insisted.

They based their conclusions on an evaluation of six different brands of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). These are not tobacco products, but are designed to look and feel like regular cigarettes.

ENDS, also known as e-cigarettes, do not produce smoke and are therefore aimed at smokers for use in places where cigarette smoking is not permitted. They usually consist of a battery, an atomiser, and a replaceable cartridge containing nicotine suspended in propylene glycol and water.

The e-cigarettes analysed were bought from online vendors and assessed based on their design features, the accuracy and clarity of labelling, and the quality of instruction leaflets and associated printed material either supplied with the product or available on the manufacturer's website.

The evaluation of the products found that while the basic design of all the products was similar, the design features varied considerably. For example, fluid containing nicotine readily leaked out of most cartridges, and it was difficult to put together or take apart the devices without getting nicotine over the user's hands.

Meanwhile cartridge labelling was very poor, with most replacement packs lacking any indication of cartridge content, expiry date, or health warnings.

Cartridges claiming to have no nicotine content looked identical to those claiming to have high nicotine content, and they were indistinguishable once removed from their packs and wrappers.

All brands were sold with ‘ambiguous amounts of nicotine', with levels varying from 6mg to 24mg, and it was not clear if this referred to the cartridge itself or the fluid suspension.

Furthermore, internet orders were often filled incorrectly, with the wrong strength of nicotine, kits or cartridges supplied.

Disposal of used cartridges containing nicotine was not adequately covered in any of the websites or accompanying instruction leaflets.

Safety features did not always work correctly, and print and internet material often contained information or made claims for which there is currently no scientific evidence, the team from the University of California noted.

Examples of this included ‘be careful to avoid inhaling any significant quantity of fluid. Although it gives you a slight tingling sensation, it is not harmful'. And ‘within two weeks, your lung capacity will increase by 30%...Wrinkles in your skin will become less noticeable'.

"Our observations provide evidence that regulators should consider removing ENDS from the market until design features, quality control, labelling, disposal and safety issues have been adequately addressed," the researchers said.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, Tobacco Control.

misioCG  Posted: 06/11/2012 16:41

With two evils better electronic cigarette. I know people that quit smoking by using a simple program like this: http://e-smoke.ie/How-to-Quit-Smoking Repeatedly tried other methods and nothing. This program worked. The best idea is to ban traditional cigarettes!

Angel   Posted: 07/11/2012 00:49

Ordinary cigarettes are the best. Those e-cigarettes are disgusting. And no Vitamin K? Give me a nice decent puff any day.

Jamie  Posted: 09/11/2012 12:03

Angel, that sounds like a junkie saying "methodone is disgusting, give me heroin anyday"

Angel   Posted: 10/11/2012 01:51

Jamie, I guess that's what I am so. A junkie. Some people have to take in the poison's of the earth though. It's like our gift to the world.

spagettilegs  Posted: 30/01/2013 19:21

I've used them to get off cigs and found them the best method of all. I've tried them all, gum, patches etc. Personally, I think it's more the ritual you go through that makes it seem like your still smoking.

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