E-CIGARETTES PRODUCE 10 TIMES MORE CARCINOGENS THAN TRADITIONAL TOBACCO
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) face increasing scrutiny. Their growing popularity is resulting in more attention being paid to them. Often, the devices are promoted as safer and effective alternatives to ordinary cigarettes by the companies behind them – and people believe that narrative. A recent Japanese study, contrary to what promoters believe, found that e-cigarettes produce as many as ten times more carcinogens than combustion cigarettes, according to reports.
“Without thorough studies to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a product like electronic cigarettes, consumers are essentially being used as the industry’s laboratory subjects with no safeguards for their protection. Given the allure of these products for teenagers, that is totally unacceptable. The one thing we know for sure: they deliver nicotine, which has addicted more people than all other drugs combined,” commented Robert Loehr, a partner with the Levin, Papantonio law firm who practices in the areas of personal injury and product liability litigation. “The FDA has published an advisory on the issue to educate the public.”
Carcinogens cause cancer. The researchers, at the direction of the Japanese Health Ministry, analyzed the vapor from e-cigarettes and found substances like formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were present in the vapor. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and acetaldehyde is strongly suspected to be a carcinogen too.
