Smokeless 'E-Cigarettes' Raise New Health Concerns (AUDIO)

(SALEM, Ore. ONS) - Oregon is the first state to ban the sale of so-called electronic cigarettes, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will soon be in court to fight the same battle nationally.

The battery-operated tube looks like a real paper-and-tobacco cigarette, but contains nicotine and flavors that can be inhaled without producing smoke. The FDA wants to regulate them as drug devices.

Some makers of e-cigarettes call them a safer alternative to smoking. For Dana Kaye, executive director of the American Lung Association of Oregon, that doesn't fly.

"My fear is just the opposite with these. If people are using them thinking they're not going to get addicted, we're going to have a new culture of folks that are hooked on nicotine, who weren't previously."

Kaye says electronic cigarettes don't make nicotine any less addictive, and the FDA has found other chemicals in them, including diethylene glycol, a common ingredient of antifreeze.

"I think we see it in some other things, makeup and lotions and that kind of stuff. There's a safe limit of that particular chemical, but not necessarily as an inhaled substance."

Kaye says most of the electronic cigarettes come from China and their health effects have not been thoroughly tested. Two distributors of the products are challenging the FDA for confiscating shipments; the court date is August 17. E-cigarettes cannot legally be sold in Oregon, but she says people are buying them online or in neighboring states.

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Arun September 22, 2012 10:11 pm (Pacific time)

It looks to me like you've partly answered your own question Tony! I believe that because THEY control the tobacco industry that there is some sort of kickbacks they must receive not to mention the money in taxes and the millions spent on testing through the FDA . Its a very profitable client of the FDA's . As for the safe smokeless cigarette i suspect the FDA claims no data has been given to them sufficient to approve of them. Its just another way for them to keep the safe cigs tied up in red tape so that they eventually have to pull em off the market. There's no money to be made if the product receives a go ahead with no future studies needing to be done. What im trying to say is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ is at stake for the fda in more way than one. someones got to pay their wages huh?

Neverlight Again May 9, 2012 9:40 pm (Pacific time)

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John Bishop August 11, 2009 9:47 pm (Pacific time)

Another thing they failed to report is that these e-cigs can also be purchased WITHOUT NICOTINE. It's a good thing people these days have enough brains to use their own common sense, and not rely on these knucklehead propaganda reports!

Shan August 11, 2009 4:36 pm (Pacific time)

Your Lung Assn. source-ditz has confused diethylene glycol with propylene glycol. What a half-baked story; please do your research! DEG was found in ONE sample out of 18 (liquids, not e-cigs) tested, at less than 1%. Since DEG's used in the tobacco curing process, I'm surprised these liquids were that clean. PROPYLENE glycol is the vapor-producing ingredient, and it's found in many, many products, including asthma inhalers and fog machines, and is "GRAS" (generally regarded as safe) by the FDA. Yet they chose to spin their "study" (of liquids from 2 companies, both of whom are suing them for seizing shipments) as terrible news. Is it revenge... or the FDA's cozy relationship with Big Pharma, because more people will choose e-cigs than mess with Chantix or buy "approved" NRT gums/lozenges? Survey says... yes!

Anonymous August 11, 2009 3:31 pm (Pacific time)

People useing them are people who have been smokers......hello.....we know we are addicted....

Steve August 11, 2009 3:28 pm (Pacific time)

Heavy smoker for over 35 years! Steve - 08/11/2009 - 14:08 I can honestly say after triing for many years to guit smoking cigarettes, with no luck, and being on inhalers twice a day....well, thats all in the past. I purchased a e-cig over a month ago and have yet to light up a smoke. I very seldom need to use my inhaler and coughing up flem is something i dont do anymore. I highly recomend these products

"Skipper" Osborne August 10, 2009 11:52 pm (Pacific time)

Very well said D. Crowley, I agree with you 100%!

D Crowley August 10, 2009 6:30 pm (Pacific time)

"If people are using them thinking they're not going to get addicted, we're going to have a new culture of folks that are hooked on nicotine, who weren't previously." You have got to be kidding that's like calling a non-smoker stupid. Do these government agencies really think that everyone who is not a smoker does not have a mind of their own either? Obviously they think smokers don't that's why I said either. You're telling us that all your speeches preaching against addiction means nothing. Look everyone knows who this product is for. Smokers who want an alternative and believe it is their right to choose something safer then a cigarette. This device causes no harm to anyone around us. That means we can enjoy the life we use. Spend money on vacations in hotels with a view, go to theme parks, stay in bars longer, go to clubs, rent apartments, keep our jobs, keep our sanity and live longer all this without harming anyone around us. That's what these are for and what independent Gov used testing facilities have proven the E-Cig will give us. The Gov agencies are so worried about losing all the tax money they've gained from cigarette sales. They can now only come up with idiotic excuses to prevent this product from being marketed like the statement I placed in Quotes.

John Henry August 10, 2009 12:08 am (Pacific time)

The FDA failed to tell you that all current NRT's have more Trace Elements in them than they found in E-cigs. Its about time someone reports the truth. Take a look at http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/ and find it for yourself.

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Smokeless 'E-Cigarettes' Raise New Health Concerns (AUDIO)

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