From Euro Parliament TV.
The good news is that there is “no ban in sight”, however I would still be concerned how they plan to regulate ecigs. At moment it still looks like electronic cigarettes will be “lumped in” with either pharma or tobacco, neither of which are a good fit. Electronic cigarettes need their own unique classification and regulation.
Category Archives: General
An open message to European MEPs
by Dave Dorn from Vapour Trails TV
Worldwide Electronic Cigarette Survey
Message from Dr Farsalinos
Thank you for your willingness to participate to the survey we have prepared. This study has been designed in order to better understand and present the views of the electronic cigarette community and to present the benefits observed as a result of using the electronic cigarette. All vapers are invited to participate, whether they have stopped or they continue smoking tobacco cigarettes.
http://www.ecigarette-research.com/web/index.php/component/content/article?id=80
‘A better way: Saving millions of lives with e-cigarettes’
Visit http://www.ecita.org.uk/blog/?p=464 to read this excellent publication for the reasons why the European Parliament should NOT classify electronic cigarettes as a medicinal product.
Study: E-Cig Vapor ‘Less Injurious’ Than Cigarette Smoke
Independent research continues to support electronic cigarettes as safe alternative
from CSP Net
BUFFALO, N.Y.– A newly released independent study of the chemical constituents of electronic cigarette vapor shows that e-cigarettes drastically reduce a user’s exposure to various chemicals found in tobacco cigarettes. Titled “Levels of Selected Carcinogens and Toxicants in Vapour From Electronic Cigarettes” and published by Tobacco Control, the study concluded that e-cigarettes could be a promising harm-reduction tool.
“The results of this study support the proposition that the vapor from e-cigarettes is less injurious than the smoke from cigarettes,” wrote the report’s lead author, Maciej L. Goniewicz of the Buffalo, N.Y.-based Roswell Park Cancer Institute. ‘Thus one would expect that if a person switched from conventional cigarettes to e-cigarettes the exposure to toxic chemicals and related adverse health effects would be reduced.”
Goniewicz and his fellow scientists analyzed levels of selected carbonyl compounds, volatile organic compounds, tobacco-specific nitrosamines and metals found in the vapor of 12 different e-cigarette brands, comparing the results to the levels found in both tobacco cigarettes and in a medicinal nicotine inhaler.
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.”
There was still some risk associated with compounds found in e-cigarette vapor, particularly an exposure to carcinogenic formaldehyde. The study found similar amounts of formaldehyde in tobacco cigarettes, e-cigarettes and medicinal inhalers–although the amount of formaldehyde found in the 12 different brands of e-cigarettes ranged from 3.2 micrograms per 150 puffs (comparable to the levels from the nicotine inhaler) to 56.1 micrograms per 150 puffs.
In his “Tobacco Analyses” blog, Michael Siegel theorized that the formaldehyde could be the result of the heating of propylene glycol or the oxidation or hydrolysis of glycerin and advocated further research.
Even with the formaldehyde findings, the study–which was not funded by e-cigarette companies, but by the Ministry of Science & Higher Education of Poland and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)–provides strong evidence in support of e-cigarettes.
“Our findings are consistent with the idea that substituting tobacco cigarettes with e-cigarettes may substantially reduce exposure to selected tobacco-specific toxicants,” the report said. “E-cigarettes as a harm-reduction strategy among smokers unwilling to quit, warrants further study.”
Perceived efficacy of e-cigarettes versus nicotine replacement therapy
Perceived efficacy of e-cigarettes versus nicotine replacement therapy among successful e-cigarette users: a qualitative approach
from Adiction Science & Clinical Practice ASCP Journal
Background
Nicotine is widely recognized as an addictive psychoactive drug. Since most smokers are bio-behaviorally addicted, quitting can be very difficult and is often accompanied by withdrawal symptoms. Research indicates that nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can double quit rates. However, the success rate for quitting remains low. E-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes) are battery-powered nicotine delivery devices used to inhale doses of vaporized nicotine from a handheld device similar in shape to a cigarette without the harmful chemicals present in tobacco products. Anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that e-cigarettes may be effective in helping smokers quit and preventing relapse, but there have been few published qualitative studies, especially among successful e-cigarette users, to support this evidence.
Methods
Qualitative design using focus groups (N = 11); 9 men and 2 women. Focus groups were conducted by posing open-ended questions relating to the use of e-cigarettes, comparison of effectiveness between NRTs and e-cigarettes, barriers to quitting, and reasons for choosing e-cigarettes over other methods.
Results
Five themes emerged that describe users’ perceptions of why e-cigarettes are efficacious in quitting smoking: 1) bio-behavioral feedback, 2) social benefits, 3) hobby elements, 4) personal identity, and 5) distinction between smoking cessation and nicotine cessation. Additionally, subjects reported their experiences with NRTs compared with e-cigarettes, citing negative side effects of NRTs and their ineffectiveness at preventing relapse.
Conclusion
These findings suggest tobacco control practitioners must pay increased attention to the importance of the behavioral and social components of smoking addiction. By addressing these components in addition to nicotine dependence, e-cigarettes appear to help some tobacco smokers transition to a less harmful replacement tool, thereby maintaining cigarette abstinence.
See complete article and download PDF at http://www.ascpjournal.org/content/8/1/5/abstract
New Delivery Arrangements for Orders Outside Ireland
As of today, March 4, ezSmoke.ie will be using a combination of Fastway Couriers & DHL for all EU orders outside of the island of Ireland. We can no longer use standard or registered post to ship orders outside of the island of Ireland. This is because of new Aviation Security Rules & Regulations that have come in to force, which are beginning to be enforced more rigidly. The transport of ALL liquids (including water!) is now prohibited as is the shipping of many batteries. Both of these items constitute the majority of items we deliver to EU.
Unfortunately, the cost of Track, Trace and Insured Delivery to EU is more expensive, so we would urge our customers to give thought to your order so as to minimise the percentage on shipping with your order.
Signed for courier delivery to UK costs €7.50 for up to 1Kg, with the other countries in the EU we can ship to, costing €12.00 for up to 1Kg. Might be an idea to pool your orders with your friends to save on shipping.
If you are based in Northern Ireland, please use Ireland as your delivery country, so as to avail of island of Ireland rates.
See full rates at http://www.ezsmoke.ie/delivery-shipping-i-25.html
Many T-Juice Flavours Available in Different Nicotine Strengths
Just a quick update to announce the ezSmoke.ie are now carrying many of your favourite T-Juice eliquids in different nicotine strengths. Choices now include T-Juice in 16mg, 11mg, 8mg, 3mg & 0mg. As we continue to build our stock, not all strengths are available in every size and flavour, but if you would like us to stock a flavour in your preferred nic level, please let us know at sales@ezsmoke.ie
Are E-cigarettes safe?
from BBC >> News >> Health
“If all the smokers in Britain stopped smoking cigarettes and started smoking e-cigarettes we would save 5 million deaths in people who are alive today”
Professor John Britton
Royal College of Physicians
Public demand for FDA recognition of e-cigarettes as “safer alternative” increases dramatically
A small update on what’s happening on the other side of the Atlantic. Seems remarkably similar to what seems to be afoot here in the EU!
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The White House petition website seems to be heating up over more than secession and Death Stars these days. In fact, it’s about blowing smoke – or should we say vapor? Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) consumers have submitted a petition to urge the White House to take action to prevent the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from enacting unnecessary, burdensome regulations that could effectively ban the sale of many e-cigarettes.
The White House required 25,000 signatures to be collected in one month to receive an answer. The petition was filed on January 14 and hit the 25,000 mark on February 6. Signatures will continue to be collected through February 13.
“The FDA first tried to remove all e-cigarettes from the market by calling them ‘drug delivery devices,’” said Elaine Keller, president of the Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association (CASAA), a non-profit, volunteer organization formed in 2009 by e-cigarette consumers to promote tobacco harm reduction policies.
“Having failed in their attempt to ban e-cigarettes, the FDA has announced its intent to propose a ‘deeming’ regulation to apply Chapter IX of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act to e-cigarettes,” said Keller. “However, portions of Chapter IX would essentially ban all e-cigarettes from being sold and other provisions would decimate the e-cigarette industry, protect cigarette markets and otherwise threaten public health.”
In 2011, consumers submitted a petition that called on the Obama administration to “Recognize electronic cigarettes as an effective alternative to smoking and support job creation in this new industry.” The petition garnered 6,000 signatures-well over the 5,000 required at that time. Unfortunately, the administration punted to the FDA, and the Agency’s response was largely non-responsive. In the time since, the White House increased the number of required signatures and has just announced another increase to 100,000 signatures.
“The current petition has already collected nearly 5 times the signatures of just over a year ago. Clearly, the word is spreading that these products are successfully replacing tobacco cigarettes for hundreds of thousands of smokers, and all without any serious adverse health effects being reported to the FDA MedWatch system since the administration began to monitor their health effects in 2008.”
“In spite of all of the rhetoric and scaremongering coming from the FDA and the tobacco control industry, e-cigarettes are not causing youth to start smoking, poisoning children, affecting the enforcement of smoking bans or causing any kind of public health hazard. They are being used as intended – by adult smokers looking for a far less hazardous long-term alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes,” said Keller.
Based on the previous White House response, Keller said that she and most tobacco harm reduction experts and advocates are not optimistic about receiving a markedly different response from the White House or FDA this time around. However, CASAA is still encouraging people to sign the petition. “CASAA believes the petition will help heighten awareness about the upcoming FDA public comment period, which is expected to be opened after the FDA announces its intended regulations sometime around April,” Keller explained. “It will be imperative that consumers submit comments at that time. We cannot allow the FDA to regulate a scientifically-proven safer alternative to smoking out of existence while leaving its far more hazardous cousin on the market. Anyone can see how ridiculous that would be.”
Keller said that CASAA will be issuing a “Call to Action” once the FDA makes its announcement, so people who are interested are encouraged to subscribe to the CASAA email list at http://casaa.org/Become_a_Member.html