Electronic cigarettes may create an aerosol vapor rather than smoke, but two new studies raise questions regarding their uses and hazards.
The reasoning behind such claims is the fact that ecigs, which may possess the appearance of traditional smokes stylishly updated for the techno-age, generate vapor rather than ashes or smoke. Additionally they usually deliver lower levels of nicotine than traditional smokes--a characteristic that could make ecigarettes useful as an aid to smoking cessation.
The reasoning behind such claims is the fact that ecigs, which may possess the appearance of traditional smokes stylishly updated for the techno-age, generate vapor rather than ashes or smoke. Additionally they usually deliver lower levels of nicotine than traditional smokes--a characteristic that could make ecigarettes useful as an aid to smoking cessation.
Research Desperately Needed
But this was merely the very first study to compare ecigarettes to an already recognized stopping support.
Because vein, Alexander Prokhorov, a smoking cessation specialist at Houston's MD Anderson Cancer Center who was not active in the study, remarked, "I am happy that there's eventually some real research just starting to appear."
But he is worried by several aspects.
Because electronic cigarettes mimic the appearance and rites of traditional smoke smoking, there's a risk that rather than electronic cigarettes helping you stop, "you might change to the goods and keep using it," Prokhorov said. And since a smoker's dependency on nicotine remains, there exists a danger to get a relapse to smoking traditional smokes.
Not a Risk Free Option
However, would not there be some possible advantage to using electronic cigarettes alternatively to traditional smokes?
But that's not the whole narrative, he stressed. "Whereas e cigarettes are less dangerous than regular smokes, within an absolute sense they're negative," because they include several hazardous substances and ultrafine particles besides nicotine, and secondhand electronic cigarette vapor may be harmful.
Furthermore, he continued, "most individuals who use ecigarettes additionally continue to utilize standard smokes; they are double users. That means they are most likely enduring each of the dangers from smoking."
There's also a quality control problem for ecigarettes, both Glantz and Prokhorov concured. "Additional research is necessary to evaluate the possible public health advantages and hazards of e-cigarettes as well as other new tobacco products," said FDA representative Jennifer Haliski. (Although the FDA's authority extends only to people ecigs promoted for remedial objective, with none having gained acceptance, it has declared its intent to propose extending regulations to encompass added classes of tobacco products which could contain all electronic cigarettes.)
That results in the question: "Why could you use something which hasn't been examined when there's something [with] quality control and [that] has been examined?"
Gateway Cigs for Teenagers?
Another question, concerning the common age of e-cigarette users, brings us to the next study.
Ecigarettes may be especially appealing to children as they're sold in a wide selection of flavors, including cherry, vanilla, as well as bubblegum. "We understand this makes these products more appealing to kids," he said. "The stress is it is likely to acclimatize children to the behaviours which are like smoking. Until proven otherwise, we must suppose this might increase their odds of taking up smoking with burn [traditional] smokes."
Prokhorov shares that stress. "My major concern is the fact that this is a portal conduct, a possible threat of having children hooked on nicotine for life," he said. That's also why Glantz favors greater regulations, including ban the usage of flavors (which are prohibited in traditional tobacco smokes) as well as forbidding the selling of ecigs to minors.
"In the existing world, where smokes are omnipresent having a promotion budget of $8 billion a year, we must be cautious rather than make it simple" for vulnerable kids to begin using tobacco, said McAfee, whose budget for the CDC's 2012 Tricks from Former Smokers effort was $54 million.
"You go on YouTube and observe how ecigarettes are being glamorized, making smoking seem hot and rebellious," he said, which are the very components that research has revealed will entice children to smoking. This is the reason media critics are comparing present ecig advertisements to the omnipresent cigarette advertisements of the 1950s, he included.
But going back to that particular age would have been a blunder, said Prokhorov. "Mentally, our society has just begun to have a tobacco-free and smoke free life," he said. "The renaissance of smokes in e- or any type is really not a pretty image."
But this was merely the very first study to compare ecigarettes to an already recognized stopping support.
Because vein, Alexander Prokhorov, a smoking cessation specialist at Houston's MD Anderson Cancer Center who was not active in the study, remarked, "I am happy that there's eventually some real research just starting to appear."
But he is worried by several aspects.
Because electronic cigarettes mimic the appearance and rites of traditional smoke smoking, there's a risk that rather than electronic cigarettes helping you stop, "you might change to the goods and keep using it," Prokhorov said. And since a smoker's dependency on nicotine remains, there exists a danger to get a relapse to smoking traditional smokes.
Not a Risk Free Option
However, would not there be some possible advantage to using electronic cigarettes alternatively to traditional smokes?
But that's not the whole narrative, he stressed. "Whereas e cigarettes are less dangerous than regular smokes, within an absolute sense they're negative," because they include several hazardous substances and ultrafine particles besides nicotine, and secondhand electronic cigarette vapor may be harmful.
Furthermore, he continued, "most individuals who use ecigarettes additionally continue to utilize standard smokes; they are double users. That means they are most likely enduring each of the dangers from smoking."
There's also a quality control problem for ecigarettes, both Glantz and Prokhorov concured. "Additional research is necessary to evaluate the possible public health advantages and hazards of e-cigarettes as well as other new tobacco products," said FDA representative Jennifer Haliski. (Although the FDA's authority extends only to people ecigs promoted for remedial objective, with none having gained acceptance, it has declared its intent to propose extending regulations to encompass added classes of tobacco products which could contain all electronic cigarettes.)
That results in the question: "Why could you use something which hasn't been examined when there's something [with] quality control and [that] has been examined?"
Gateway Cigs for Teenagers?
Another question, concerning the common age of e-cigarette users, brings us to the next study.
Ecigarettes may be especially appealing to children as they're sold in a wide selection of flavors, including cherry, vanilla, as well as bubblegum. "We understand this makes these products more appealing to kids," he said. "The stress is it is likely to acclimatize children to the behaviours which are like smoking. Until proven otherwise, we must suppose this might increase their odds of taking up smoking with burn [traditional] smokes."
Prokhorov shares that stress. "My major concern is the fact that this is a portal conduct, a possible threat of having children hooked on nicotine for life," he said. That's also why Glantz favors greater regulations, including ban the usage of flavors (which are prohibited in traditional tobacco smokes) as well as forbidding the selling of ecigs to minors.
"In the existing world, where smokes are omnipresent having a promotion budget of $8 billion a year, we must be cautious rather than make it simple" for vulnerable kids to begin using tobacco, said McAfee, whose budget for the CDC's 2012 Tricks from Former Smokers effort was $54 million.
"You go on YouTube and observe how ecigarettes are being glamorized, making smoking seem hot and rebellious," he said, which are the very components that research has revealed will entice children to smoking. This is the reason media critics are comparing present ecig advertisements to the omnipresent cigarette advertisements of the 1950s, he included.
But going back to that particular age would have been a blunder, said Prokhorov. "Mentally, our society has just begun to have a tobacco-free and smoke free life," he said. "The renaissance of smokes in e- or any type is really not a pretty image."