E Cigarette Commitee | Scientific Studies

Whats so special about the e cigarette?

November 24, 2011

The first electronic cigarette was designed in 1963. Production of the first electronic cigarette was abandoned at the time as the required components were not freely available and costly. An improvement of the same was done by Hon Lik in 2003. The industry he worked in, now called Ruyan started exporting these devices even before they received the first international patent in early 2007.

The e-cigarette is electronic device which reproduces the exact functions of a real cigarette. An e-cigarette produces a mist which resembles a real cigarette. When inhaled by a smoker, it produces the sensation of real smoke and even tastes like nicotine, without the odor and health risks. Most e-cigarettes are portable and rechargeable, and resemble real cigarettes, even to being the same size. When inhaled, the tip even lights up as a real cigarette would, leaving the smoker with a feeling that he has actually smoked a real cigarette. The gadgets are re-useable, with replaceable filters. Some of the electronic devises are made to resemble cigars or pipes as well as cigarettes so as to accommodate all types of smokers.

The e-cigarette is composed of three sections:

The cartridge: is the mouthpiece as well as being the reservoir which holds the liquid which will be vaporized.

The Atomizer: is the section responsible for heating and vaporizing the liquid.

The Power Supply: is the rechargeable battery

Click here for an image of all three components.
These devices are intended for use by persons intending to stop smoking, or who wish to continue smoking without all the health risks associated to tobacco inhalation. It is most unfortunate that these devices are becoming popular with children and non smokers, probably due to the intense publicity and claims of safety.

The safety and benefits of the e-cigarette are not shared by all the health organizations as this device is relative new on the market. In May 2009, a report issued by the ‘Food and Drug Administration of Pharmaceutical Analysis’ tested the contents of 20 varieties of e-cigarette cartridges, produced by 2 different manufacturers. It was discovered that tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), which are responsible for triggering cancers, were found in most of the cartridges tested. It was also found that the nicotine levels mentioned on the packaging did not correspond with real nicotine levels, some of which were claiming to be nicotine free. A press release in July 2009 by the FDA was issued, discouraging users from reverting to the e-cigarette.

The American Association of Public Health Physicians has however, come out in favor of the e-cigarette, stating the smoker could reduce the risk of tobacco related diseases by 99.9% by converting to the e-cigarette, as well as greatly reducing the risk for passive smokers. It has asked the FDA to re-classify the product as a tobacco product instead of a drug/device combination.

In 2008, the World Health Organization issued a statement claiming that there have not been enough rigorous clinical studies conducted proving that the e-cigarette could be a safe alternative for nicotine replacement therapy. The World Health Organization is not prepared to back up or reject the product as a safe alternative to smoking until further in depth studies have been conducted.

Posted by Sandra in Studies.

Where is It Still Iegal?

November 22, 2011

Since electric cigarettes were introduced, there have been a number of arguments raised by all the parties for and against them. The medics have had their concerns, and so have the smokers. And it is not just at the individual level, but at the organizational level as well. The FDA and the WHO have also had their reservations with the cigarettes in terms of them being solutions and/or alternatives to smoking. And the debates have had their own consequences, with some countries declaring them legal while others illegal.

Countries where the E-Cigarettes Are legal
Generally, the issue surrounding the legality of e-cigarettes is not that clear in many countries. Starting with Europe, there are countries which the cigarettes aren’t illegal yes, but the licensing laws block the sale of the same due to technicalities in the elements/compounds of the cigarettes. One such country is Denmark. The laws here generally categorize anything with nicotine as a medical product and so do the cigarettes. The cigarettes therefore need the relevant medical authorization for them to be sold.

Other countries with controversies surrounding the e-cigarettes in Europe include Finland, Latvia, Norway and The Netherlands. However, you will realize that there are some exceptions in such countries like in airports and personal use importation cases where the cigarettes are sold and used, but only to people above the age of majority.

However, the e-cigarettes are legal in most Europe countries. The restrictions mainly apply to the nicotine-containing e-cigarettes.

The cigarettes are legal in many states in the US, except for a few states where there have been debates about their legality, like California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington State. However, it is illegal to sell the cigarettes to minors.

In Australia, the e-cigarettes are also legal despite the classification of nicotine as poisonous. In the Victoria state, the laws do not restrict anyone on buying the e-cigarettes online for personal use. Other countries where the cigarettes are legal include China, South Korea and New Zealand.

Countries Where The E-Cigarettes are Banned
The most notable of these countries is Brazil. Here, neither the selling of advertising of the e-cigarettes is allowed. This ban is due to health concerns as assessed by the countries health agency, Anvisa which found the cigarettes “lacking enough information” to qualify them as healthy products.

The other country where the same case applies is Canada. The ban here is also due to “unsatisfactory information” from the manufacturers of these cigarettes concerning there their health risk.

Panama has totally banned the sale and importation of the cigarettes. The reason for doing so is based on the findings of FDA.

Singapore also doesn’t allow the distribution and importation these products. The reason for their illegality is that the motive behind the manufacture of the cigarettes was to attract more people (especially the young) into smoking.

Lebanon recently banned the cigarettes with effect from 21st September 2011.
As such, it is important to know where to carry the cigarettes is at all you are a visitor, otherwise you might be met by very punishments in some countries if you aren’t careful.

Posted by Sandra in News.

Studies on the E Cigarette

Since the report issued by the Food and Drug Association (FDA) in 2009, claiming that the e-cigarette is not safe for use due to traces of the cancer producing TSNA’s being detected, as well as levels of nicotine not corresponding to what is stated on the labels, many famous Universities have undergone tests in this domain.

The Harvard University published a paper on the effects of tobacco craving reduction when using the e-cigarette. In this study it was concluded that the use of the electronic cigarette considerably reduced the craving for tobacco within the first 10 minutes, much quicker than a normal cigarette. Ten puffs on a specific brand of e-cigarette delivered a small amount of nicotine which was far less nicotine which would have delivered the same amount of puffs on a regular cigarette. It was concluded that the reduction in craving was not due to inhaling the nicotine in the placebo, but due to the ability of the brain to do this. Harvard University says that although more studies are needed in this field, there is already sufficient evidence to prove that these placebos are capable of drastically and indefinitely reducing tobacco cravings.

Researchers at the University of California came out strongly against the use of the e-cigarette. They are saying that these are harmful to the health and calling for these e-cigarettes to be banned. The opinion shared by all Universities who are against the use of the e-cigarette is that the toxicity levels of the chemical propylene glycol over an extended period of time are still unknown. There is also the threat that users will be substituting one addiction for another, just as harmful.

The Boston University also initiated a study after the release of the FDA report. This report is in favour of the e-cigarette even though they feel that further studies still need to be conducted. Dr Michael Siegal, a tobacco researcher and Professor at Boston University’s School of Public Health feels that any alternative to tobacco smoking needs to be investigated and developed. Dr Siegal says that the fact that this device is helping thousands of smokers quit without the risk of inhalation of second hand smoke by innocent persons, needs to be encouraged. “In some ways, this is the product we’ve been looking for all these years” he says. Dr Siegal hit out hard against the Anti Smoking groups, accusing them of having trouble coping with anything that looks like a cigarette. He also believes that if the e-cigarette can be fine tuned, the pharmaceutical companies will lose business to the companies who manufacture these placebo cigarettes. In his opinion, the e-cigarette is much safer than normal cigarettes, with lower levels of harmful toxins with carcinogens levels being 1000 times lower than in regular cigarettes.

Another famous university who is for the e-cigarette is the Minnesota University. They are however also asking that these devices be further developed and harmful levels of chemicals be analyzed and reduced. Labelling should be more detailed and instructions clearer with health hazards clearly printed.

Posted by Sandra in Studies.