FDA: Electronic cigarettes are a no-no

Here's an item that you shouldn't include in your ever-growing arsenal of electronic devices, including cellphones, iPods, PDAs, GPS trackers and laptops: the e-cigarette. The Food and Drug Administration today released an analysis of 19 varieties of electronic cigarettes that says that half contained nitrosamines (the same carcinogen found in real cigarettes) and that many contained diethylene glycol, the poisonous ingredient in antifreeze. Some that claimed to have no nicotine were found to have low levels of the drug.

E-cigarettes are promoted by their manufacturers as safer than traditional cigarettes because they do not burn tobacco. Instead, a lithium battery in the cigarette-shaped device heats a solution of nicotine in propylene glycol, producing a fine mist that can be inhaled to deliver nicotine directly to the lungs. An LED glows red at the tip and they even emit puffs of white smoke similar to that seen in stage shows. The devices are available in more than 4,000 retail outlets nationwide, as well as on many websites, with a starting cost of $40 to $70. Over the last year, sales have grown from about $10 million to $100 million, according to the Electronic Cigarette Assn., the industry's trade group. They also come in a variety of flavors, including chocolate, mint and apple, which make them appealing to children and adolescents.

Most of the e-cigarettes are produced in China, where they have become very popular. The varieties tested by FDA, however, were produced by Smoking Everywhere, a Florida company, and Njoy Cigarettes of Scottsdale, Ariz. In a telephone news conference, agency officials said "quality control processes used to manufacture these products are inconsistent or nonexistent."

They have become very controversial. Some countries, like Australia, have banned them because their health risks are unknown. Action on Smoking and Health, an anti-tobacco group headed by activist John Banzhaf, has petitioned the FDA to regulate the products and Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.) has called on the agency to remove them from the market immediately, a call that has been echoed by the American Heart Assn., the American Lung Assn. and other groups.

Even though the e-cigarettes are marketed as healthy, critics charge that the delivery of nicotine directly to the lungs speeds its passage to the brain, enhancing the drug's addictive properties. Critics also said the devices are appealing to the young and could serve as a learning aid to promote smoking of actual cigarettes. Stop-smoking experts say the devices are not useful for ending cigarette addiction because they do nothing to interrupt the hand-to-mouth behavior that is an integral part of the habit.

For its part, the FDA has classified e-cigarettes as a drug delivery device, which subjects them to regulation and requires proof of safety. The agency has been examining and detaining the product at the border, halting more than 50 shipments, but has not taken any steps to remove it from the U.S. market. The FDA has been sued by manufacturers that say the agency has no jurisdiction over the device because it is not marketed as a stop-smoking aid.

The discovery of carcinogens and toxins in at least two products may encourage the FDA to step up its actions against manufacturers. The agency, however, has not said whether it will move against the makers of the tested products.

"Electronic cigarettes should be absolutely avoided because they clearly have toxic elements," said Dr. Jonathan Whiteson, a pulmonologist at New York University Langone Medical Center. "It is proven now that electronic cigarettes contain toxic elements. Electronic cigarettes play no role in smoking cessation and don't add to a healthier lifestyle."

-- Thomas H. Maugh II

Photo: The inventor of an electronic cigarette, Hon Lik, smokes his invention in Beiijng earlier this year.

Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[David]

The two companies tested had products manufactured in China and we all know what that means. Anything made in China is potentially dangerous period. That being said make sure your product is not from China.

If you really want to be safe you can make your own e-liquid with Propylene Glycol (which is 70 - 80% and the main ingredient in e-cigs), flavoring and distilled water. It is completely safe. Propylene Glycol is FDA approved and used in everything from food to asthma inhalers. The only real issue is that of the nicotine. I would personally recommend it without nicotine. You don't need nicotine and 3 days without it you are no longer physically addicted.

These are mostly scare tactics by a government who doesn't want to lose their cash cow in Tobacco. It's amazing how people will just buy anything they are told. I have done extensive research and of all the e-cigarette ingredients are safe, non carcinogenic and FDA approved.

That being said I am all for quality control and having these devices double tested to make sure they don't have any other chemicals or elements added. But to ban them outright is ridiculous and we as Americans shouldn't stand for it.

[H.]

I am currently a smoker. Yesterday I got a call from my doctor saying that I have heart damage. I am 22 years old. I have been smoking since I was 17. I ALREADY have heart damage from smoking. I now have to quit. I have no choice. I talked to my doctor about the e-cigs and they said I should use it. It will give my lungs a break from the tobacco smoke and I should ween myself off of the e-cigs over time. They also said not to quit cold-turkey because it would put too much stress on my heart. I have to have nicotine somehow in order to ween off of it. The e-cig seems like a very reasonable choice.

And to all of you who keep saying "quit smoking. it's gross. you're going to die"... well you obviously have never been a smoker. You have no idea what it takes to quit. And now that there is the e-cigs as an option, you should be glad. This will help so many people quit smoking.

[electronic cigarette review]

These e-cigarettes are really amazing because this can help smokers quit their nasty smoking habits. It would let them save money,

[Brandon]

FDA was denied on Jan 15, 2010 on stopping the shipments which was also appealed. It's amazing to see them isolate electronic cigarettes and say they are unsafe while allowing the sale of regulated and far more dangerous products, sounds hypocritcal.

Brandon
www.ElectricCigarettesStore.com

[SVi]

Don't even say the f***ing WORD 'children.' If I hear that word one more time out of some shill who wants to silence the other side. I'm going to start a charity that donates cartons of cigarettes to pregnant women.

The idea that a $40-$70 device available mainly online appeals to kids (even though I've never seen the flavors advertised until I got to the order pages) is ludicrous when an entire pack of real cigarettes only costs 4 - 6 bucks and can be bought anywhere.

The dishonesty is horrific. And I don't care what's in e-cigs. Real cigs are worse, and the only answer to either is that people shouldn't use nicotine at all. The government has zero authority to regulate these things, beyond denying them to minors (which the cost already effectively does).

[Byron]

I'd like to have some trust in the gov't, however after reading numerous stories on the FDA's reports I am starting to lose it. Senatators and Reps who want to call the ban to these eCigs most likely have no idea how hard it really is to quit smoking. I've tried 9 times with either the gum or the patch. I have yet to try using drugs such as "Chantix", and most likely won't considering the rap sheet behind it. Chantix is somewhat of an antidepressant and has been known to cause suicides. Why doesn't the FDA compare this drug to the eCigarettes? Or how about compare it to a real cigarette? I strongly believe that the eCigarette is going to help me quit once and for all. If it kills me in the process, so be it. A real cigarette is going to kill me over time anyway, right?

Attention FDA, get your priorities straight. There's worse out there in our country than an electronic cigarette. Until you show me relevant proof that one of these things actually killed someone, I am going to continue to use it until I am fully quit. And I can't wait until I am.

Senators and Reps, get your stuff straight too. You're not the most honest of people. And really, I don't think that at least half of you actually and honestly represent the citizens that elected you. I can't wait until I get out the military and get my chance in office.

Questions regarding my smoking habits and how the eCigarette has helped me? Send an e-mail.

[Peanut]

Who gives a damn? The real issue here is all the innocent people living with smokers, the people who are forced to endure secondhand smoke and it's many health issues, the people who have to smell that awfull stench, the people who have to sit through a road trip with an avid smoker in the car, the people who have to avoid smokers when they go out to a public place with them as they decide to smoke on the way in. I have lived with smokers my entire life and as far as I'm concerned if these things eliminate secondhand smoke they should be the only way to smoke.

[electronic cigarette]

thanks for the review

[electronic cigarette reviews]

This is one of the best out there. I got mine over 3 weeks ago and still just as happy and excited as the day I got it. You just can not get better, and the price is nice also compared to most on the market.

[electronic cigarette]

thanks for this info you given here.

[vj]

I live in the UK and we have the same arguments going on over here about e cigarettes and the same official condemnation is just beginning to get press coverage with similar propeganda being put forward as in your FDA article. I too like many people above have smoked 20-30 cigarettes a day for many years (36 years I'm afraid) , I too like many people above have tried hard ,over the years to quit smoking, even before it became fashionable to try to quit and second hand smoke was an unknown phrase, I was trying. At various times and over a long period of time I have tried all of the following alternatives or 'cures': chewing tobacco (very early days), licquorice sweets with nicotine in them (late 1970's-turned your mouth black!) patches, gum, inhalers, tabs (mint type things), NHS (National Health Service) smoking cessation classes, NHS counselling, NHS telephone support, hypnotism, accupuncture Champix (must be UK name for your Channix as it is an antidepressant and is currently getting a lot of bad press for suicide risks), Zyban, and of course good old fashioned cold turkey. The longest I ever went was 2 weeks and that was using the strongest level gum and chewing it then pressing it against my cheeks constantly day in day out, the minute I stopped chewing I wanted a cigarette. This obviously didn't last because my jaw hurt and I looked like an extra in Grease. Last year I found intellicig online a UK based e-cig company and being willing (as above list clearly shows) to try anything ordered the intellicig kit. I can now smoke or not smoke at will. I can go completely without a traditional cigarette and just use my evolution intellicig or, as I tend to do, allow myself one, at 10pm for some reason, ciggy a day. I'm officially sad as to be honest I now prefer my intellicig to real ones and the 10pm smoke is obviously my own insecurity about leaving the habit behind altogether or my own stubborness as I really resent being harrassed out of my free choice as an adult into not partaking of a legal adult pursuit by any of the usual arguments which I won't re-hash here as you all know them off by heart. Intellicig started by buying their stuff from China (as they all did, it was invented in China after all - the inventor should have a Knighthood from our Queen - how many lives has he saved!!) however, they now produce all the parts in the UK and the ecopure liquid is also made here and has stopped using propylene glycol as a base to avoid the types of critisisms your FDA are making. Their liquid has recently been tested in a reputable UK university the report is on their website and their products are government endorsed in Egypt where they intend to use intellicig as a country wide strategy to encourage people to stop smoking. They are unfortunately having to wage the same war the companies you mention in the USA are and have just as much support from us, their customers as your vaping companies seem to have. I don't work for intellicig, I don't promote them, I have no vested interest financial or otherwise I'm just a customer. However, for the first time in my life since being a child I am a customer who can now choose not to smoke, can choose not to make my husband breathe my smoke, can choose to fly abroad, go out, socialise, have dinner in a restaurant, attend a concert etc etc without suffering from being unable to smoke, can choose to be healthier, the key words here are I CAN CHOOSE. Thats what e cigarettes do for people like us. We must stand up to our respective 'powers that be' this product is too important to lose. We went quietly over cigarettes because many of the points made were valid and intellegent, this is not the case for e vaping so we must not give up or give in.

[E-Cig Seller]

Let's talk about the FDA's knowledge of actual cigarettes and how they have yet to ban them, and the actual known cancer causing chemicals within the cigarettes that the government makes money with.

The FDA has no proof or evidence that any of the properties of the ecig's have caused cancer, there is just no evidence. It's all things that they think might have hazardous affects on people. The FDA should focus on things that actually has evidence like actual cigarettes.

[Cyan]

As previously mentioned, the FDA is paid off by Big Pharma and the Big Tobacco co.s. So I believe this about as much as their claims that natural medicine is potentially dangerous and should be avoided while the chemically engineered drugs & vaccines are safe..

[Lane Humphries]

What the FDA and our Government don't understand is this: If you keep giving us retarded "excuses" of why you're trying to BAN something for our own good, when you're only trying to squeeze money out of us, it's only a matter of time before we BAN them for OUR own--actual--good.

Oh and on the fact of "harmful ingredients," the FDA is on a mission to comply with the codex alimentarius, which would love nothing more than to ban garlic (among other herbs) that they believe are "deadly substances," while mandating that beef hormones to be injected into our livestock.

Down with the FDA.