eCigs Less Harmful, Says Study

CSPNet covered a recent study that analyzed e-cigarette vapor. I’m sure in what would come as a shock to no one, the study found e-cigarette vapor to be much less harmful than smoking.  .The study did find that formaldehyde is a byproduct of vapor, but noted similar levels are found in FDA approved nicotine inhalers. Still, it would probably be a good idea if the industry could figure out what causes that and eliminate it. What may be shocking is that the study’s authors actually stated that harm reduction might be a good idea.

Study: E-Cig Vapor ‘Less Injurious’ Than Cigarette Smoke

The report found that “levels of selected toxic compounds found in the smoke from a conventional cigarette were 9-450-fold higher than levels in the vapor of an e-cigarette. … Exposure to acrolein, an oxidant and respiratory irritant thought to be a major contributor to cardiovascular disease from smoking, is 15 times lower on average in e-cigarette vapor compared with cigarette smoke. The amounts of toxic metals and aldehydes in e-cigarettes are trace amounts and are comparable with amounts contained in an examined therapeutic product.”

What’s even more wild is that the study was a joint effort between Poland and the National Institute of Health. Apparently, there is still some glimmer of interest in real science as it relates to e-cigarettes out there.

Daily News Highlights Prohibitionist Talking Points

The NY Daily News recently posted an article piggybacking off the CDC report that more smokers are aware of, and using, e-cigarettes. The article spends a lot of time quoting various health officials who seem to think that’s a bad thing. A number of favorite arguments are presented like dual use and the gateway theory.

More people are smoking e-cigarettes, but as a quitting tool, they may be all smoke and mirrors

“There are people who will choose to stop smoking because it becomes so inconvenient,” Strasser, who is the resident tobacco products expert at Penn’s Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Nicotine Addiction, said. “E-cigarettes propose a way to circumvent the rules and to sustain that nicotine addiction until you are able to light up again.”

E-cigarette use is only beginning to be studied. In introductory research, “one of the things that’s interesting is the non-daily smoker as well as the heavy, over a pack a day smoker — those are the groups that are using e-cigarettes the most often,” Strasser said.

You know, it seems that actual smokers who have switched never seem to come up. The focus is on the edge cases or on non-users taking up vaping. Existing smokers who could benefit are sort of swept under the rug, as if they’re already a lost cause.

Biz Insider: Tax Court Could Benefit eCigs (also ecig co. slippery slope)

Business Insider ran an e-cigarette article. The article noted that the roll-your-own industry was dealt a blow in tax court. This setback could be a boon to e-cigarette companies which currently have no special tax (despite the best attempts of some states.) The weird thing is, the reporter interviewed one company which made some statements about their business that might open them to some risk.

The article says that this company, which is the parent of EZ-Smoker has about 16% of the market. I’ve not really heard of this brand, which also pursues the questionable practice of subscription programs.

UC Fullerton Publishes Amazingly Biased eCig Article

The Daily Titan, school paper for the University of California Fullerton published an article about electronic cigarettes. The article was a full-on hit piece against e-cigarettes. There wasn’t even the typical token mention of the other side of the argument in this piece. Granted, the UC system is under the rule of one of the most vehement prohibitionists around, but this piece didn’t even pretend to be an unbiased piece of journalism.

A closer eye needed on e-cigarettes

Another problem with e-cigarette regulation is that manufacturers are able to alter the device’s look and taste to appeal to a younger crowd. Although they resemble a traditional cigarette, the various solutions available for these devices are available in fruit and candy flavors that appeal to children

The about the author blurb mentions that all journalism students must serve as staff writers on the paper. Apparently Fullerton’s J-school has a track on yellow journalism.

Verge Article Questions eCig Safety

A recent article on the site The Verge calls out the ghost of FDA past by running an article questioning what we know about electronic cigarettes. The article, to its credit, does include both CASAA and Clive Bates on the discussion who point out the flaws in the FDA’s study. However, the article seems to insinuate each and every item from China should not be trusted.

Vaporware: why we still don’t know if e-cigarettes are safe | The Verge

If the FDA’s initial study proved anything, it’s that right now there’s no way regular people can hope to know what’s in their e-cigarettes. While manufacturers and advocacy groups claim e-cigarettes are safe when compared to nicotine-replacement products and (especially when compared to traditional cigarettes), we’ve heard similar claims from vested interests before, and they should be treated with due skepticism. What’s needed is a full and thorough investigation into all of the brands on sale in the US, and consistent rules for future products in this category. Until it does, consumers are left having to assume that e-cigarettes are probably safer than regular smoking, trusting their lungs to vaporish claims of the companies that make them.

There is the point to the idea that some sort of standards and quality control would be helpful. The problem is the agency that is in a position to do so is perhaps somewhat less concerned with consumers than it should be.

e-Cigarette Store Robbed

Trib.com reports that a Casper, Wyoming e-cigarette shopped was burglarized to the tune of 20 grand. The Wyoming Vapor Company had several hundred e-cigarette kits and accessories taken when thieves cut video and network cables and broke into the establishment.

Hundreds of electronic cigarettes stolen from Casper business

He’s since been a vocal advocate of the products, hosting a weekly Web show on VapeTV and urging others to drop their tobacco habit. The worst outcome of this incident, he said, would be if someone went back to smoking because he or she was in need of supplies.

“I don’t do this for the money,” he said. “I cannot let [customers’] supplies dry up just because some jackass opened up my back door with a pry bar.”

This vendor is a regular fixture in the community with a VapeTV show and everything. Most owners lament the loss of business, but this guy is afraid his customers won’t be able to get their supplies.  A class act, here’s to hoping the criminals get caught.

Hawaii Kids Rally For eCig Restrictions Industry Supports

Youth congregated at the Hawaii State Capitol in support of tougher restriction on tobacco and e-cigarettes youth sales. The unfortunate part is e-cigarettes were lumped in with cigarette companies and accusations of “tactics” were leveled.  The state is grappling with ways to deal with the issue and are considering an age restriction for the sale of electronic cigarettes. The odd thing is at least as far as e-cigarettes go, e-cigarette companies are on the same page as the protestors.

Hawaii kids rally against tobacco and electronic cigarettes – Hawaii News Now – KGMB and KHNL

 ”We agree that sales of tobacco, tobacco products, and vapor products to minors should be prohibited, and already have a company policy reflecting that position,” wrote Cory Smith, President and Owner of Volcano Fine Electronic Cigarettes, in written testimony to lawmakers.

Misguided youth will be misguided I suppose.  I agree in general with age restrictions for e-cigarettes. It seems like this group might have been a little better off working with e-cigarette companies rather than assuming the worst.

Lawmaker Licks Wounds after Utah eCig Tax Defeat

As I mentioned earlier in a breaking news update, Utah’s House shot down a proposed bill that would effectively kill the industry in the state.  The bill was down voted by a pretty healthy majority with a number of lawmakers stating they didn’t believe raising taxes would do anything to prevent youth use of electronic cigarettes. For his part, the lawmaker that hatched this scheme is sticking to his story in the wake of defeat.

House lawmakers reject e-cigarette and tobacco products tax | Deseret News

“E-cigarettes are illegal to those 19 and under,” Ray said. “But recently a Utah high school high took 200 e-cigarettes from their students. Somewhere many kids are getting those.”

It’s interesting, the reports that came out when this bill was first proposed a week prior had Ray claiming there to have been 100 e-cigarettes confiscated. Just a scant week later, that number has doubled. Either someone has a penchant for embellishment, or Utah will soon have more e-cigarette using students than there are people in the state.

Oklahoma Proposes eCig Tax, ALA Against it?

Oklahoma is half way to taxing e-cigarettes at the same rate as traditional cigarettes. Local prohibitionists apparently have some lawmakers convinced there’s no evidence e-cigarettes are any safer than smoking, so they should get taxed at the same rate. Oddly enough, the Oklahoma chapter of the American Lung Association is against the tax as it thinks that means the state is condoning e-cigarettes.  I guess that means the state endorses regular cigarettes as well.

Oklahoma lawmakers consider tighter regulations for e-cigarettes – KOAM TV 7 Joplin and Pittsburg

“The regular cigarettes, they have more toxins compared to the electronic cigarette, but they’re still not safe,” says Dr. Wagas Chishti of Freeman Health System.  “So they had a lung function test before they used the electronic cigarette, and they did a lung function test immediately after they inhaled an electronic cigarette.  It did show their lung functions decreased immediately after they used the electronic cigarette.”

Some lawmakers in Oklahoma say the known short term effects of e-cigarettes are bad enough to put them in the same category of traditional cigarettes.

The thing with that test is there’s no comparison.  How severely did it impact lung function? How did that compare to a smoker? But what I find interesting is that so many states are all trying to tax e-cigarettes at the same time.

Update: Greg over at CASAA alerted me to the fact the proposed tax is actually way lower than tobacco taxes, maxing out at 10% of the tobacco tax (which is about a buck per pack of cigarettes.)  The ALA is up in arms because the tax is too low, not because it exists.

Malta Wants eCig Ban Regardless of EU

Looks like Cyprus is getting impatient for the EU’s overbearing Tobacco Products Directive. In a recent post in the Cyprus Mail, the country apparently envies Belgium, Malta and Slovakia for their proactive bans on electronic cigarettes. The country’s police and health officials want to at least ban the devices in public whether or not the TPD ever sees the light of day.

All this coming from a country that apparently has a difficult time enforcing its regular smoking ban. I suppose trying to crack down on the real deal before dealing with much harder to detect e-cigarettes made sense to someone.