Put down that e-cigar, Mark! The FDA has ruled that electronic cigarettes, cigars, and similar devices contain known carcinogens and slammed them for being marketed to younger age groups.
We’ve looked at what’s inside e-cigars and our Mark Wilson has even tried them out, but what’s the point of using a $200 gadget that’s as unhealthy (or worse!) as the real thing?
The FDA’s centre for Drug Evaluation, Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis (DPA) came our with the following conclusions as a result of its analysis of e-smoking devices available on the market:
- Diethylene glycol was detected in one cartridge at approximately 1%. Diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze, is toxic to humans.
- Certain tobacco-specific nitrosamines which are human carcinogens were detected in half of the samples tested.
- Tobacco-specific impurities suspected of being harmful to humans-anabasine, myosmine, and β-nicotyrine-were detected in a majority of the samples tested.
- The electronic cigarette cartridges that were labelled as containing no nicotine had low levels of nicotine present in all cartridges tested, except one.
- Three different electronic cigarette cartridges with the same label were tested and each cartridge emitted a markedly different amount of nicotine with each puff. The nicotine levels per puff ranged from 26.8 to 43.2 mcg nicotine/100 mL puff.
- One high-nicotine cartridge delivered twice as much nicotine to users when the vapor from that electronic cigarette brand was inhaled than was delivered by a sample of the nicotine inhalation product (used as a control) approved by FDA for use as a smoking cessation aid.
Let’s review: the device that’s supposed to help you get healthier and save money by quitting smoking is more likely to worsen your addiction, be more harmful to your health, and be an even bigger waste of money. [FDA via Instead]
a68rebel
July 23, 2009 at 3:37 PM
So you named 3 substances in e-cigarettes that may be bad. A real tobacco cigarette has over 4000 substances. So explain again how the e-cig is “just as bad”. 3 vs 4000….. I’m I missing something here?
Report PermalinkThomas Hambleton
July 23, 2009 at 6:05 PM
Both Gizmodo and you are interpreting the report incorrectly. Read the full thing at http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm172906.htm to get a better idea, beware it’s got lots of numbers.
Report PermalinkEgon Spengler
July 23, 2009 at 8:53 PM
a68rebel: “I’m I missing something here?”
I’ll tell you what you’re missing: a spell-checker
Report PermalinkDewayne Guyton
July 23, 2009 at 5:12 PM
I’m scared! I feel I’ve done a bad bad thing! My 18 month old was sick last week and I lost the measuring tube that came with my baby’s medicine to administer to him by mouth, so instead, I measured the medicinal liquid with a teaspoon and gave it to my beautiful baby boy!!! Now, I’m afraid the FDA will pound down my door and relinquish my house of all spoons and charge with illegal contriband of drug administering products not regulated by the United States Government!!! What do I do, people, please tell me! Wheat do I do?!
I have an idea what I’d love to do! Tell the FDA which portion of my robust body they can kiss.
I use windex to clean my windows, but if I injest it into my body in large quantities, it could kill me. Does the FDA want to regulate Windex?
It’s just one more way the Government wants to control our lives and get more or our money. I’m pretty sure the Tobacco Industry isn’t very happy with E-Cigs either, though.
I say for once in this sad day we live in, Uncle Sam, stay out of my personal enjoyment! E-Cigs have made it possible for me to live a longer life! Iv’e stopped wheezing and coughing in my sleep! (My wife sends a personal thank you!) I can actually jog to the mailbox without feeling I’m having a heart attack! I can breath again!!! Now let me breathe in peace!
Report PermalinkWilliam
July 23, 2009 at 5:22 PM
I have been on an e-cig for about 6 months. Haven’t looked back and cant stand smokes or their smell now. The report points out manufacturing contamination. I get most of my stuff from the UK and there is a certain quality assured there that doesnt stretch to the eastern asia region. The device isnt marketed as a cessation device, and it does give you back everything from breathing better, breath and taste. As far as Im concerned this was the best invention in decades, the only people who would be against it are those funded by tobacco taxes. If they were serious, it would be medically prescribed and manufactured under higher quality control as a medical device. Solves the “children taking it up” and the “contamination” issues and puts this report into the garbage.
Report PermalinkCorrine
June 2, 2011 at 6:04 PM
couldnt have said it better myself and i havent even tried it yet!!!!. i question why is this thing not huge in todays society????? shit you can smoke in your own home again……hahahaha
Report Permalinkcmf
March 6, 2010 at 9:32 PM
Theres a lot of argument to whether e-cigs are bad or “just as bad as real cigs.
I’m pretty sure if a western government really cared about the health of the population and not the tax revenue tobacco brings, they will invest money into studying, developing and improving e-cigs along with heavily regulating them as prescription only or even getting rid of the novelty of such an item, (making them less attractive to minors.
I’m sure they (governments) can achieve this with ease and save alot of lives.
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