02 – Guide to the media and FDA’s E-cigarette Scare Tactics
Currently, there is a lot of negative propaganda directed at electronic cigarettes, being fomented by the media and the FDA. With this is mind, we thought it important to have a page detailing the objections and the double-speak.
First, let’s take a look at their side of the story:
The FDA’s Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis analyzed the ingredients in a small sample of cartridges from illegally seized shipments from two brands of electronic cigarettes. (editor note, GreenSmoke was NOT one of the brands seized) In one sample, the FDA’s analysis detected diethylene glycol, a chemical the FDA claims is used in antifreeze, and that is toxic to humans. In several other samples, the FDA analysis detected trace levels of carcinogens, including nitrosamines. These tests indicate that these products contained detectable levels of known carcinogens and toxic chemicals to which users could potentially be exposed.
The FDA’s statement can be boiled down to the following:
“We’ve determined that e-cigarettes contain a number of chemicals, but we have no way of determining if there are any chemicals in these e-cigarettes because nobody has submitted these e-cigarettes we’ve been analyzing for analysis.”
Now what was that again? But seriously, let’s take an honest look at their “spin”, because their spin doesn’t hold water……
Diethylene Glycol
Diethylene glycol is indeed toxic. That much is true. But how toxic is it? It possesses one-tenth the toxicity of household aspirin, not to mention one-fortieth the toxicity of nicotine, the primary component of e-cigaratte vapor which is administered in much higher doses.
Diethylene glycol is also an ingredient found in many items you use in your home, on your body, and in your body everyday, including toothpaste, mouthwash, cough syrup, various pet foods, wine and cigars among plenty of other consumer products. Do you know what it is not an ingredient of? Antifreeze. Propylene glycol is used in antifreeze. Diethylene glycol is used in coolants. Let’s get our scare tactics straight, shall we?
Propylene Glycol
Propylene Glycol when vaporized was found as early as 1942 to be an excellent germicide, combating pneumonia, influenza, and other respiratory diseases. More on that study available here.
Propylene Glycol is derived from glycerine, which is considered to be one of the top go-to 100% safe food ingredients, mainly due to it’s property of being non-inflammatory to human tissue. Propylene Glycol is an FDA approved food additive and is found in many everyday use items including toothpaste, mouthwash, various soaps, cake frosting and other foods. You can read more about the many thousands of varied usages of PG at wikipedia. What makes the Propylene Glycol argument even more ridiculous, is that Propylene Glycol is also an ingredient used in tobacco cigarettes. It adds “smoke volume”, which in reality is water vapor intermingled with smoke when inhaling a tobacco cigarette. In an electronic cigarette, there is no smoke, only water vapor. This FDA approved food additive can also be found in your pharmacy over the counter, in your local grocery store or department store in many everyday personal use and hygiene items. Propylene Glycol is an ingredient in many foods, but it also is used as an ingredient in antifreeze, and of course, in tobacco cigarettes.
Nitrosamines
It’s true that some nitrosamines might be carcinogenic; half of them have shown trends that indicate that they might be carcinogenic in humans. The risk is certainly there, but it’s not like the FDA has cared about it before, because anybody can find nitrosamines in many food products including beer, bacon, fish, pickles, and a variety of other meats and cheeses, as well as in party ballons and condoms. And, of course, in tobacco cigarettes.
Flavors
The FDA is concerned that “….(electronic cigarettes) are also available in different flavors, such as chocolate and mint, which may appeal to young people…”
C’mon, are they really serious? Chocolate and mint may appeal to young people? I guarantee that chocolate and mint appeal to young people. Chocolate and mint appeal to many people young and old. It has NOTHING to do with how young or how old you are. That’s like saying scuba divers are preying on children because scuba diving places a major emphasis on breathing, an activity that many young people are known to participate in. What exactly would adult-centric flavors be? Liver & onions? Butterscotch hard candies? Dentu-Creme? What’s the flavor that appeals to twenty-four-year-olds and not sixteen-year-olds? It doesn’t exist.
I will add further examples to this page in the future – NoTobacco.Net
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