Electronic cigs have been under a lot of scrutiny. Read the FDA’s warning about electronic cigs and the health related dangers.
Electrical cigarettes have been around since 2002 but have only been in the United States for about 2 years. Any product that cuts into the market share of tobacco companies is going to come under extreme scrutiny.
This new wonder device, electronic cigs, is a nicotine delivery system that uses a small battery to power a heating element that vaporizes a flavored, nicotine liquid stored in a cartridge. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that can cause high blood pressure in the same way as caffeine.
<em>”The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that a laboratory analysis of electronic cigarette samples has found that they contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze.” FDA News Release: July 22, 2009</em>
<em>”What? Are you kidding? You want me to inhale vaporized antifreeze?” </em> This is most likely the thought the FDA is trying to instill in people’s minds. But lets go a step further and ask our own questions.
<strong>What other products contain diethylene glycol(DEG)?</strong>
DEG is a building block in organic synthesis. It is used as a solvent for dyes, resins, oils and other organic compounds.
It is a humectant for TOBACCO, cork, printing ink and glue.
It is also found in brake fluid, lubricants, wallpaper strippers, artificial fog solutions and heating and cooking fuel.
Personal care products such as lotion, skin cream and deodorants all contain DEG.
So yes, electronic cigs do contain DEG but I use lotion and deodorant everyday. Why is the FDA not concerned with the DEG my body is absorbing this way? Perhaps DEG isn’t the chemical in antifreeze that makes it so poisonous?
<strong>It is said that the FDA detected the carcinogen nitrosamine. What products have nitrosamines in them?</strong>
Tobacco smoke, American dip snuff, beer, fish, meat and cheese (as a preservative) and latex products such as balloons and condoms.
One tobacco cigarette contains over <strong>4000</strong> chemicals. We know 50 of those are carcinogens known to cause cancer in humans and many of the other chemicals are poisonous as well. Electronic cigs have a small fraction of the chemicals of a tobacco cigarette.
Vaporizing is heating a substance to a point that it turns to a vapor without igniting the substance and creating smoke. Vaporizing is a much cleaner nicotine delivery system.
The FDA is making a show of concern for our health when it comes to electric cigarettes. I look forward to an in depth true analysis of this product but I would also like to have all the information. Electronic cigs are not advertised as a stop smoking aid even though many people quit smoking within a week. Electronic cigs are intended as a safer and healthier alternative to traditional smoked tobacco.