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Tag: health
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Vitamin E acetate found in the majority of illness causing vapes in the United States
Over the past several weeks various News sources have discussed a compound called Vitamin E acetate also known as tocopheryl acetate. This fairly common vitamin supplement was found in the majority of cases involving serious illnesses and even (at the time of this writing) seven deaths. (Source) Many mainstream media sources are jumping on the bandwagon to try to ban all vaping and the sales of vaping products.What is Vitamin E Acetate?
Vitamin E Acetate is a common vitamin supplement. It is widely used topically, as a medication that is said to improve the healing of wounds and reduction of scar tissue.
Why is Vitamin E Acetate being found in vapes?
Vitamin E Acetate has been found only recently in a small sub-sect of the vaping industry; specifically in THC distilled (marijuana) pens & pods that are being sold on the black market. The individual or companies behind these products are thickening their products with Vitamin E Acetate in order to fool people into thinking their products are higher quality. Inhaling Vitamin E Acetate is not safe for humans and is causing significant physical health issues to people who do.
Vitamin E Acetate is a newcomer to the THC distilled process and is likely being used by a few do-it-yourself THC vape sellers. Traditional vape products (e-cigarettes and nicotine e-liquid) does not use Vitamin E Acetate in the manufacturing of e-liquids. Traditional nicotine e-liquid vaping has now been around for about 15 years with no known significant medical issues, and this sudden increase in illnesses and deaths seems to be directly related to THC distilled vape pens being produced in the black market and sold on the streets. (Source)
What can be done to stop this?
The first step is to warn consumers in both the United States and Canada to stop purchasing THC distillate vape pens & pods, especially if purchased from underground & black market distributors. Any marijuana product should be purchased only from reputable distributors with a licence to manufacture in their area. The Center for Disease Control in the US has recommended “Anyone who uses an e-cigarette or vaping product should not buy these products (e.g., e-cigarette or vaping products with THC or CBD oils) off the street, and should not modify or add any substances to these products that are not intended by the manufacturer.” They also state, “If you are an adult who uses e-cigarettes because you have quit cigarette smoking: Do not return to smoking cigarettes.” (Source)
Our hope at Canada Vapes is in the authorities within our Countries to track down and remove both the affected products from the market, as well as, provide stiff punishment for anyone selling any vaping products that containing Vitamin E Acetate. Furthermore, our governments should further regulate the manufacturing of any e-liquids, being traditional nicotine e-liquids or THC distillate vape products to ensure they adhere to a high level of quality standards.
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Doctor states vaping bans are “A Tremendous overreaction” to vaping related illness
Overreaction to Vaping-Related Illness: A Doctor’s Perspective
In recent weeks, there has been widespread news about various government sources threatening and even implementing vaping bans. This reaction has been triggered by the deaths of seven people and serious lung illnesses in up to 400 individuals, all linked to vaping. Several governments worldwide are eager to ban flavors or outright ban all vaping products to reduce the number of illnesses and deaths currently happening in the US.
Global Vaping Bans
Here are a few examples of the growing number of governments implementing vaping bans:
- India: The Indian cabinet has announced a ban on the production, import, and sale of electronic cigarettes. This ban includes up to three years of jail time. (Source)
- San Francisco, USA: The city has banned the sale of e-cigarettes.
- New York, USA: The state has officially banned the sale of flavored vaping products. (Source)
- Chicago, USA: The Mayor has stated he would seek a citywide ban on all flavored e-cigarette products.
- USA: President Donald Trump has suggested a flavor ban on vaping products. (Source)
A Doctor’s View: Vaping Bans are an Overreaction
Dr. Michael Siegel suggests that e-cigarette bans are a tremendous overreaction. After reviewing the information from the CDC, he has determined that in the overwhelming majority of cases, it is not nicotine e-cigarettes causing health issues; instead, it is vaping illicit marijuana vape cartridges. He states, “These are THC oils that people are vaping that are getting into the lungs and causing these diseases.”
Dr. Siegel goes on to state, “We know that there was a contaminant called Vitamin E Acetate Oil that was found in all of the New York Cartridges, THC cartridges that were tested. We know that vaping oil is extremely dangerous to the lungs.”
The Confusion Between Two Separate Issues
Dr. Siegel suggests that our government is confusing and aligning two separate vaping-related issues; one being the vape-related deaths & sicknesses, and the second being youth vaping. He also suggests that banning flavored e-liquids will have little effect on reducing youth from vaping.
The Big Deal
The answer to whether this is a big deal is a resounding ‘No’. Dr. Siegel states, “We know that the overwhelming majority of smokers or ex-smokers who are now vaping, if they stop vaping, they’re most likely going to go back to cigarette smoking and that’s the last thing that we should be doing to public health.”
This is certainly a challenging situation considering the number of uninformed people, and the misguided information coming from the media. As Dr. Siegel concludes, “with an outbreak like this, you don’t want to generalize. You want to be as specific as possible.” It’s crucial for our government to make timely & accurate statements based on the best information available at the time, and not rush in with blanket bans of vaping products which stand to affect those of us that are actively using them as a safer alternative to cigarettes. The real culprit to ban is illicit THC vape pens & pods that are made & sold on the streets.
Please click HERE to listen to the entire interview with Dr. Siegel. Original story posted by CBC Radio ‘As it Happens’.
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Study shows switching tobacco cigarettes for e-cigarettes reduces exposure to numerous toxins and carcinogens
Exposure to Nicotine and Selected Toxicants in Cigarette Smokers Who Switched to Electronic Cigarettes: A Longitudinal Within-Subjects Observational Study
A newly released study has now again proven what many of us were already aware of. Smokers switching to vaping devices that contain nicotine but not tobacco will remove the deadly toxins found in tobacco cigarettes. This will go a long way toward the fight for vaping as a safer alternative to tobacco. It will hopeful help doctors to continue recommending vaping and vape
Abstract
Introduction: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are purported to deliver nicotine aerosol without any toxic combustion products present in tobacco smoke. In this longitudinal within-subjects observational study, we evaluated the effects of e-cigarettes on nicotine delivery and exposure to selected carcinogens and toxicants.
Methods: We measured seven nicotine metabolites and 17 tobacco smoke exposure biomarkers in the urine samples of 20 smokers collected before and after switching to pen-style M201 e-cigarettes for 2 weeks. Biomarkers were metabolites of 13 major carcinogens and toxicants in cigarette smoke: one tobacco-specific nitrosamine (NNK), eight volatile organic compounds (1,3-butadiene, crotonaldehyde, acrolein, benzene, acrylamide, acrylonitrile, ethylene oxide, and propylene oxide), and four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, and pyrene). Changes in urine biomarkers concentration were tested using repeated measures analysis of variance.
Results: In total, 45% of participants reported complete abstinence from cigarette smoking at 2 weeks, while 55% reported continued smoking. Levels of total nicotine and some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites did not change after switching from tobacco to e-cigarettes. All other biomarkers significantly decreased after 1 week of using e-cigarettes (p < .05). After 1 week, the greatest percentage reductions in biomarkers levels were observed for metabolites of 1,3-butadiene, benzene, and acrylonitrile. Total NNAL, a metabolite of NNK, declined by 57% and 64% after 1 and 2 weeks, respectively, while 3-hydroxyfluorene levels declined by 46% at week 1, and 34% at week 2.
Conclusions: After switching from tobacco to e-cigarettes, nicotine exposure remains unchanged, while exposure to selected carcinogens and toxicants is substantially reduced.
Implications: To our knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrates that substituting tobacco cigarettes with an e-cigarette may reduce user exposure to numerous toxicants and carcinogens otherwise present in tobacco cigarettes. Data on reduced exposure to harmful constituents that are present in tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes can aid in evaluating e-cigarettes as a potential harm reduction device.
- Maciej L. Goniewicz, PharmD, PhD1,2,
- Michal Gawron, PharmD2,
- Danielle M. Smith, MPH1,
- Margaret Peng, BSc3,
- Peyton Jacob III, PhD3 and
- Neal L. Benowitz, MD3
+ Author Affiliations
- Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY
- Department of General and Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Silesia, Sosnowiec, Poland
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Departments of Medicine and Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
- Corresponding Author: Maciej L. Goniewicz, PharmD, PhD, Department of Health Behavior, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA. Telephone: 716-845-8541; Fax: 716-845-1268; E-mail: maciej.goniewicz@roswellpark.org
- Received March 21, 2016.
- Accepted June 15, 2016.
- © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
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Britain’s Royal College of Physicians agree – Vaping much safer than smoking
Royal College of Physicians in Britain: Vaping Safer than Smoking
In a significant development, the Royal College of Physicians in Britain has stated that vaping is safer than smoking, a fact that the vaping community has been advocating for years. The College is now encouraging smokers to use e-cigarettes, endorsing them as a safer method for nicotine delivery.
The Report’s Findings
The report, titled “Nicotine without smoke: tobacco harm reduction,” is based on expert opinion and concludes that the hazards to health from inhaling e-cigarette vapours are likely less than the harms from smoking tobacco. The authors argue that people smoke because they are addicted to nicotine but are harmed by the tar and cancer-causing chemicals. They call smoking the biggest avoidable cause of death and disability and social inequalities in health in the U.K.
The Question of Young People and Vaping
The British group stated that there hasn’t been “demonstrated evidence of significant progression into smoking among young people.” This statement challenges the ‘gateway’ idea often used by many governments as a reason to ban or restrict e-cigarettes and vaping.
The Global Market for Vaping Products
The global market for “vaping” products was estimated at around $7 billion US in 2015. Tobacco smoking kills half of all smokers, plus at least another 600,000 people a year non-smokers through second-hand smoke. This makes it the world’s biggest preventable killer, with a predicted death toll of a billion by the end of the century, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Regulation of E-cigarettes in Canada
E-cigarettes with nicotine have not been approved for sale by Health Canada but are readily available. Many provinces ban sales of electronic cigarettes to minors. The Canadian Cancer Society says seven provinces (B.C., Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, N.S. and P.E.I.) have adopted legislation to regulate e-cigarettes by banning sales to minors, prohibiting e-cigarette use in public places and workplaces where smoking is banned, restricting advertising and promotion and other measures.
The Ideal Scenario
Linda Bauld, a professor at Stirling University, deputy director of the U.K. Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies and a co-author of the RCP report, stated, “The ideal is for people to use nothing. But when the alternative is smoking, people should be encouraged to use nicotine delivered in a cleaner form than in deadly cigarettes.”
The Anti-smoking Group ASH UK’s Response
The anti-smoking group ASH UK welcomed the report, saying it showed “that switching to vaping is a positive and sensible life choice” for smokers. “Electronic cigarette vapour does not contain smoke, which is why vaping is much less harmful,” said Deborah Arnott, ASH’s chief executive.
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CDC continues to lie about Adolescent Vaping and tobacco use
Our Two Cents:
The facts are clear, over the last 4 years smoking in youth has gone down significantly from 16% to 7%. This applies for all tobacco products, cigarettes, pipes, cigars, with the exception of hooka’s which had a slight increase. This is a huge step in the right direction and yet the CDC, with definitive data, still continues to brush the truth under the carpet. This response ultimately reveals that like other large organizations (*cough, government), the CDC has more of an agenda than simply making factual based decisions regarding e-cigarettes.
It is only if you consider vaping to be smoking (which it clearly is not) that the numbers could possibly be seen as the center for disease control sees them. The fact that vaping is proven to be 96% safer then smoking should make these results a huge victory for anti-smoking advocates, not the other way around.Canada Vapes Ownership
Center for Disease Control continues to lie about Vaping & Tobacco Use…
Public health officials who see the rise of vaping as a sinister development, rather than an opportunity to dramatically reduce smoking-related disease and death, insist on calling e-cigarettes “tobacco products,” even though they do not contain tobacco. The bizarre consequences of that scientifically unsound label can be seen in a recent press release from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that deliberately obscures a decline in teenagers’ tobacco use by pretending it did not happen.
Each year the CDC’s National Youth Tobacco Survey asks high school and middle school students about their use of six tobacco products: cigarettes, bidis (leaf-wrapped cigarettes), cigars, pipe tobacco, shisha (used in hookahs), and smokeless tobacco. According to data published on Friday, teenagers’ consumption of all but one tobacco product fell between 2011 and 2015. The only exception was hookahs, use of which rose from 2011 to 2014 before falling last year in both age groups. But hookahs are not nearly as popular as cigarettes were in 2011: The rate of past-month hookah use by high school students last year was about 7 percent, compared to 16 percent for cigarettes in 2011. So the CDC is contradicting its own data when it announces that there was “no decline in overall youth tobacco use since 2011.”
CDC
The CDC reaches that puzzling conclusion by treating tobacco-free, noncombustible e-cigarettes as equivalent to the conventional kind. Instead of welcoming the substantial decline in past-month cigarette smoking among teenagers, which fell from 15.8 percent in 2011 to 9.3 percent in 2015, it bemoans the dramatic increase in past-month vaping, which rose from 1.5 percent in 2011 to 16.5 percent in 2015. As far as the CDC is concerned, the rise of vaping completely erases the progress represented by the decline in smoking.
Given the enormous difference between the risks posed by smoking and the risks posed by vaping (which is something like 95 percent less hazardous), that position is scientifically absurd. When vaping replaces smoking, that should count as a public health victory, not a setback. To the extent that teenagers who otherwise would be cigarette smokers are using e-cigarettes instead (a development that is consistent with the fact that smoking and vaping rates are moving in opposite directions), the CDC should be celebrating.
National Youth Tobacco Survey (CDC)
The CDC worries that teenagers who otherwise never would have tried tobacco will start vaping, get hooked on nicotine, and then move on to smoking. There is very little evidence that e-cigarettes are a “gateway” to the real thing, a fear that seems inconsistent with the ongoing declines in smoking among both adults and teenagers. While past-month use of e-cigarettes has shot up among teenagers in recent years, it may consist mainly of experimentation. Data from other surveys indicate that almost all regular vapers are current or former smokers.
The CDC also overlooks the fact that the vast majority of teenagers who try vaping use nicotine-free e-liquids. In the 2014 Monitoring the Future Study, only 22 percent of high school seniors who vaped “reported inhaling nicotine.” So when the CDC equates adolescent vaping with tobacco use, it is mainly talking about products that not only do not contain tobacco but do not even contain the same psychoactive ingredient as tobacco.
Even if there were a stronger basis for the CDC’s concerns, they would not justify lying to the public about adolescent tobacco use, which contrary to what the agency says is falling, not flat. “Overall tobacco use by middle and high school students has not changed since 2011,” says the CDC. That simply is not true, and no amount of rhetorical wriggling can make it so.
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Harm Reversal: E-cigs 96% Safer than Combustible Cigs
The University of Catania, Italy, has initiated a comprehensive clinical research program aimed at identifying early signs of sub-clinical injury in ‘healthy’ smokers who have transitioned to vaping, as well as those with pre-existing lung disease. The report states that the initial findings from this research are promising and generally support the beneficial impact of electronic cigarette use on respiratory outcomes, both in health and disease.
Positive Changes in Lung Function
‘Healthy’ smokers were encouraged to quit or reduce their tobacco consumption by switching to e-cigarettes. Changes in lung function were monitored for up to a year. The report highlights significant positive changes as early as 3 months, with steady progressive improvements thereafter. Notably, participants with pre-existing conditions such as asthma and COPD exhibited significant improvements in respiratory physiology and did not experience any asthma attacks.
E-cigarettes: A Less Harmful Option?
The report asserts that “compared to combustible cigarettes, e-vapour products are at least 96% less harmful. They may substantially reduce individual risk and population harm.” This suggests that e-cigarettes could potentially be a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes.
A Call for Regulatory Consideration
The report concludes with a recommendation for regulatory authorities to consider the emerging evidence on harm reversal when formulating policies. This underscores the importance of incorporating scientific findings into policy-making to ensure the health and safety of the public.
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Canada to Regulate E-Cigarettes; Recommendations from the Standing Committee on Health
This March the Standing Committee of Health produced a report outlining recommendations for the regulation of E-cigarettes based off of evidence collected from eight meetings with a total of thirty-three witnesses, including government officials, health officials, manufacturers, and users of the devices. Overall it looks hopeful, and potentially good news for vapers in Canada. You can read the full report here.The Good:
- Recommendation 1: That the Government of Canada financially supports research on the health effects of E-cigs (potential risks and benefits), and their impact on the uptake of nicotine products by youth and on other tobacco control efforts (renormalization and potential gateway effects). We feel that this is good because currently the claims against e-cigarettes are not supported by evidence, and conducting research is more likely to dispel disparaging attitudes than create new ones.
- Recommendation 2: That the Government of Canada works with all affected stakeholders to establish a new legislative framework for regulating electronic cigarettes. This is awesome because it means that they will not be regulated as tobacco, or medical products (won’t be required to have a prescription to obtain a vape etc).
- Recommendation 7: Establish standards relating to the safety of all components of electronic cigarettes, and also require manufacturers and importers of electronic cigarettes to disclose information relating to ingredients. We feel that it’s important for consumers to have full disclosure.
- Recommendation 8: Require electronic cigarette components be sold in child resistant packaging, and that all packaging clearly and accurately indicate the concentration of nicotine and contain appropriate safety warnings about the product. This recommendation makes sense, and would certainly improve the safety of vaping.
- Recommendation 9: Prohibit electronic cigarette manufacturers from making unproven health claims. We couldn’t agree with this more!
- Recommendation 10: Prohibit the sale of electronic cigarettes or other electronic nicotine delivery systems to person under the age of 18. Most retailers are already enforcing this rule, ourselves included.
The Bad:
- Recommendation 5: Electronic Cigarettes be required to be visually distinct from other tobacco products (ie not look like a cigarette, like our e-dart). This recommendation is based off of the fear that vaping may re-normalize tobacco use, and as outlined in recommendation 1 there currently is not enough evidence to support the claim.
- Recommendation 6: Establish maximum levels of nicotine contained in electronic cigarette liquid or vapour. This could pose unnecessary limitations on consumers , as the amount of nicotine considered to be safe in e-liquid is well over the amount currently found in even the highest concentrations available.
The Ugly:
- Recommendation 11: Prohibit the use of electronic cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems in federally regulated public spaces. This would prohibit vaping in bars, restaurants, and other places that may want to cater to vapers.
- Recommendation 12: Restrictions for advertising and promotional activities for these products. This recommendation greatly imposes on businesses and consumers ability to connect with appropriate harm reduction devices.
- Recommendation 14: Prohibit the use of flavourings in electronic cigarette liquids that are specifically designed to appeal to youth, such as candy flavourings. This recommendation comes from the baseless idea that youth, whom are mostly mimicking adult behaviors when they engage in smoking may be drawn to vaping because of candy flavours. A large amount of vapers prefer sweet and fruity flavours, and this would pose unnecessary restrictions on them.
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Toronto board of health to review a ban on electronic cigarettes
Toronto Board of Health meeting to discuss banning electronic cigarettes
The Toronto Board of Health is convening a meeting to deliberate on a potential municipal ban on electronic cigarettes, equating them with traditional cigarettes. This implies that vaping or the use of electronic cigarettes could be prohibited in public parks, bars, restaurants, and any other places where traditional tobacco cigarettes are currently banned across the greater Toronto area.
Proposed Restrictions on E-cigarettes
The Board is also considering a proposal to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarette products and prohibit e-cigarette displays in stores.
Moreover, the Board is contemplating banning the use of electronic cigarettes in workplaces, Toronto School boards, universities, colleges, and hospitals, urging these institutions to prohibit the use of electronic cigarettes both indoors and outdoors on their premises. They plan to reach out to the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association, and the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas, suggesting they implement similar practices. The Parks and Environment Committee will also be approached with this suggestion.
Justifications for the Proposed Actions
The Board’s potential actions are justified on two grounds.
Firstly, they argue that there is insufficient research on the risk of second-hand vapor, citing potential health risks associated with it.
Secondly, they express concern that e-cigarettes could be perceived as a gateway to tobacco cigarettes, leading to a ‘normalization of smoking’ after years of efforts to render tobacco cigarettes obsolete.
Counterarguments and Criticisms
Critics argue that the Board is overlooking the significant positive outcomes already achieved by ex-tobacco smokers who have successfully transitioned to electronic cigarettes. They point out that mint-flavored nicotine gum has never been suggested as a potential gateway to tobacco cigarettes, and assert that electronic cigarettes are fundamentally different from tobacco cigarettes. This is evidenced by the fact that many ex-smokers who switch to electronic cigarettes find that they no longer enjoy the taste and feel of tobacco cigarettes.
Critics also question the Board’s contradictory stance of implying that scientific evidence suggests e-cigarettes could be a gateway to tobacco cigarettes, while simultaneously citing a lack of scientific evidence regarding second-hand vapor as a reason to ban e-cigarettes.
A Call for Regulation Over Prohibition
Critics suggest that a more productive approach would be for the government to regulate the manufacturing of these products, rather than imposing a ban based on insufficient scientific evidence. They advocate for requirements such as labels, child-proof lids, warnings, and information to be mandated for all vendors of e-cigarettes, arguing that this would be a more effective governmental ruling compared to pulling them off shelves and banning them publicly.
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Doctor Reports “Using electronic cigarettes as dangerous as fruits, vegetables and fish”
E-cigarettes: As Harmless as Fruits, Vegetables, and Fish?
In a recent interview featured on a European News video on Youtube, Dr. Phillip Prelle, a staunch supporter of e-cigarettes, made some noteworthy statements.
The Elimination of Tobacco’s Big Three Poisons
Dr. Prelle pointed out that e-cigarettes have successfully eliminated the three major poisons found in tobacco: tar, carbon monoxide, and fine particles. These substances are known to lead to serious health issues such as cancer, heart attacks, and chronic bronchitis.
The Ridiculousness of Danger Queries
He expressed his disbelief at the frequent queries about the potential dangers of e-cigarettes. According to him, such concerns are unfounded and ridiculous.
The Comparative Danger Spectrum
Dr. Prelle proposed a comparative danger spectrum. If tobacco is placed at the extreme left, followed by alcohol, fat products, and sugar products, then e-cigarettes would be positioned next to fruits, vegetables, and fish. He emphasized that the dangers posed by e-cigarettes are very minimal.
The Level of Danger
He further explained that the level of danger associated with e-cigarettes is comparable to the risks of consuming vegetables with pesticides or fish with heavy metals. This is the level of danger we are dealing with when it comes to e-cigarettes.
Electronic cigarettes are as dangerous as fruits, vegetables, and fish.
The Regulatory Discussions in the EU
There are ongoing discussions in the EU regarding the regulations for electronic cigarettes. There is pressure from big tobacco and pharmaceutical companies to categorize e-cigarettes along with tobacco cigarettes. The implications of such a move on the e-cigarette marketplace in Europe are being debated.
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E-cigarettes could save hundreds of millions of lives, scientists tell WHO
Health authorities continue to view e-cigarettes as a threat, but experts cite potential for harm reduction
More than 50 public health experts and nicotine experts, including five Canadians, are urging the World Health Organization not to classify e-cigarettes as tobacco products, because they say doing so could jeopardize a “significant health innovation” that could save hundreds of millions of lives. In an open letter to WHO Director General Margaret Chan, the scientists from Europe, North America, Asia and Australia argue e-cigarettes are “part of the solution” in the fight against smoking. “These products could be among the most significant health innovations of the 21st century – perhaps saving hundreds of millions of lives. The urge to control and suppress them as tobacco products should be resisted,” the experts wrote. The UN health agency seems to view e-cigarettes as a “threat” that should be classified like regular cigarettes, according to leaked documents from a meeting last November. David Sweanor, a law professor at the University of Ottawa, who works on tobacco control, is one of the signatories.
A move to classify e-cigarettes alongside regular cigarettes would push countries to take similar tough measures to restrict demand, such as through higher taxes. (CBC)
“We’re here to try to get rid of cigarettes, we’re here to try to make cigarettes obsolete and we have the potential with technology to start to do that, and that would be one of the biggest breakthroughs we’ve ever had in public health,” Sweanor said in an interview.
Sweanor and the other writers refer to “tobacco harm reduction” – the idea that 1.3 billion people worldwide who smoke could do much less harm to their health if they consumed nicotine in a low-risk, non-combustible form, given that the majority of harmful effects attributed to tobacco arises from tar and toxic gases drawn into the lungs.
In response to the letter, Penny Woods, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: “The overall impact of e-cigarette use on public health is currently unclear. While they could prove to be an important tool to help people stop smoking, the unregulated status of e-cigarettes is problematic.”
So far, research shows overwhelmingly that e-cigarettes are used by people who want to quit smoking, Sweanor said. There’s little evidence e-cigarettes are used by young people to start smoking, although that is a risk, he said.
Threat to anti-smoking progress?
Nova Scotia plans to introduce legislation in the fall to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to those under the age of 19. “We don’t want to see e-cigarette and flavoured tobacco juice again seeing smoking increase in our province,” said Leo Glavine, Nova Scotia’s health minister. “We’ve had too many gains in a province that has high cancer rates and death strongly associated with smoking.” Health Canada continues to advise against the use of e-cigarettes. “Currently, the advertisement and sale of electronic cigarette products, including e-liquid, that contain nicotine and/or have health claims is non-compliant with the Food and Drugs Act., and is therefore illegal,” a spokesman for Health Canada said in an email. “To date there is not sufficient evidence that the potential benefits of e-cigarettes in helping Canadians to quit smoking outweigh the potential risks. A company would have to provide evidence of safety, quality and effectiveness in order to have its product authorized. Without this scientific evidence, Health Canada continues to advise Canadians, especially youth, against the use of these products.” Health Canada has sent cease and desist orders to sellers of e-cigarettes, mostly because people have been making health claims, said Tony Carver, owner of Evape Electronic Cigarette in Newmarket, Ont. Carver said the scientists’ letter gives him hope. “I think that is the best news I have ever heard for the electronic cigarette, business it answers a lot of the misinformation that there is out there.” The writers of the letter say they wanted to get their message out now given that the WHO is set to review its tobacco recommendations in Moscow from Oct. 13 to 18. With files from CBC’s Pauline Dakin, Melanie Glanz and Reuters