The FDA has released an analysis of electronic cigarettes which shows that they contain a variety of dangerous toxins, some of which are found in real cigarettes. E-Cigarettes are battery-operated devices, some of which are made to look like real cigarettes, complete with glowing red LED lights and simulated puffs of smoke. When turned on, they heat up a solution of nicotine in propylene glycol to deliver a fine mist of nicotine to the smoker. The problem is that many contain nitrosamines (the same carcinogen found in real cigarettes), as well as diethylene glycol, the poisonous ingredient in antifreeze. E-cigarettes are available at thousands of retail stores. Over this past year their sales have grown from about $10 million to $100 million, according to the Electronic Cigarette Association, the industry’s trade group. They come in a variety of flavors, including chocolate, mint and apple, which could make them appealing to children and adolescents. [via the Houston Chronicle]
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Tags: diethylene glycol, e-cigarettes, e-cigs, electronic cigarettes, nitrosamine, propylene glycol
Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
August 21st, 2009 at 11:33 am
Please ban cigarettes smoking to all once for all. This way, people will live longer. Waste of time and money putting ads warning people. Stop the gimmicks !!!
August 21st, 2009 at 2:31 pm
GO!! after the drinkers that are ruining their health and livers , for awhile!!!!!!!!!! Ban THEM!! from restaurants and casinos!! LEAVE us alone nowwwww.
August 21st, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Ecigarettes are saving lives right now. Thousands of people have been able to quit smoking completely by this method, and many end up weaning themselves completely off nicotine over time, as well. Ecigarette liquid contains a small amount of nitrosamines from tobacco, which are found in regular cigarettes, but otherwise do not contain the thousands of chemicals and cancer-causing agents typically found in tobacco cigarette smoke. (It is important that customers choose reputable liquid manufacturers, making a pure product that does not contain undesirable substances). There is no combustion; they do not produce smoke, or release any significant amount of harmful chemicals into the air. I and many others will likely fall back into smoking cigarettes if this device is banned. Please consider the great harm this will do!
August 21st, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Dr. Chang, you are not doing your research very well. Your blog is just repeating and seeding a fear that the FDA wants. This post is a classic for ” Don’t believe everything you read”.
Diethylene Glycol (DG) is not in antifreeze but Propylene Glycol (PG) is.
Products that have the ingredient of DG are found in toothpaste, mouthwash, cough syrup, dog food, wine, cigars.
PG are in ingredient in products found in lotions, makeup, food additives, etc. DG is 1/10th toxicity of aspirin. Nitrosamines are carcingenic in humans.
Nitrosamines are found in food products including beer, bacon, fish, pickles, various meats and cheeses along with party balloons and condoms and cigarettes.
Dr. Chang, you are spreading FDA propaganda without virtually no evidence to support that e-cigs are more harmful than that of any of these other products. Electronic cigarettes are concluded to be a safer alternative to smoking for most smokers.
And what flavor appeals to 24 yr olds and not 16 yr olds? – just doesn’t happen.
No advertising to geared towards young people. Initially e-cigs are more expensive
to start up than that of tobacco cigarettes. Let’s just get a few things straight before
you or the FDA starts this war against electronic cigarettes.
For anyone who wants to learn more go to http://www.greensmoke.com/3262.html
August 21st, 2009 at 10:53 pm
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November 12th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
nice, easy reading article. great site!
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