Friday, December 20, 2013

ENDS: Electronic Cigarettes on Deck to Be Added to New York City’s Smoke-Free Air Act

The NYC Ban on ENDS will happen. The votes have been cast, and now it just needs to be signed into law. Now people will banter back and forth about all of the points. I believe that many of the speaking points are scripted from multiple groups who are trying to move the argument in their direction to protect their wallets. 

 People get so lost in the forest. This controversy is happening all over the world. We are watching the story unfold on an international level, yet, we seem to only get involved when it is getting closer to us. We need to be proactive. We need to wake up and realize that we are all connected. Finally, those of us who are "regular people" are able to network internationally. This is a problem for the status quo. Old alliances need to brace themselves for us. We are organizing and looking out for each other. We are helping each other now, and there are way more of us than there are of them.

 When I saw the Article 18 proposal for the EU, I was floored by how the laws would instantly close many mom and pop companies. I am sure many people thought I was overreacting, because it is nicotine we were talking about (never mind that it is naturally occurring and not a known carcinogen). People don't have to smoke. People don't have to vape. People don't need to care about other people who chose to do something that they do not care about.

 I believe in being fair. I am not left or right. I like to stay balanced and stay fair. Before we can even engage in a conversation about ecigs and vaping, we need to find an authority to look to. I chose the United Nations. The United Nations overseas the World Health Organization, and they are two international bodies who set guidelines for their members. Their members are our leaders. In the United States we elect our leaders. The leaders in my country work for me. They are supposed to know the will of all the people in the country and make decisions based on the people's choice, for the good of the people as a whole.

Some people think of the United Nations as ONLY a place to discuss war and human rights violations. However, when I saw all arrows pointing back to the WHO quoting their findings about ENDS, I realized that the United Nations is where we should start. Go to the source, and try to make the change their. Like an octopus, everyone around the world is trying to wrestle an arm. The United Nations and World Health Organization is at the heart. 

 According to the WHO:
Electronic cigarettes or ENDS (electronic nicotine delivery systems) are devices whose function is to vaporize and deliver to the lungs of the user a chemical mixture typically composed of nicotine, propylene glycol and other chemicals, although some products claim to contain no nicotine. A number of ENDS are offered in flavours that can be particularly attractive to adolescents. (KS: Scientifically proven? What about Vodka, Sugar Chewing Gum)  Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) are the most common prototype of ENDS.

Each device contains an electronic vaporization system, rechargeable batteries, electronic controls and cartridges of the liquid that is vaporized. The manufacturers report that the cartridges typically contain between 6 and 24 mg of nicotine, but sometimes can contain more than 100 mg. In the form of tobacco products, nicotine is an addictive chemical that in excessive amounts can be lethal (0.5-1.0 mg per kg of weight of the person).
Most ENDS are shaped to look like their conventional (tobacco) counterparts (e.g. cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, pipes, hookahs or shishas). They are also sometimes made to look like everyday items such as pens and USB memory sticks, for people who wish to use the product without other people noticing.

Are electronic cigarettes (ENDS) safe?

The safety of ENDS has not been scientifically demonstrated.
The potential risks they pose for the health of users remain undetermined. Furthermore, scientific testing indicates that the products vary widely in the amount of nicotine and other chemicals they deliver and there is no way for consumers to find out what is actually delivered by the product they have purchased.
Most ENDS contain large (KS: Relative to the small amount of fluid in the device, or compared to your total water intake for the day?)  concentrations of propylene glycol, which is a known irritant when inhaled (KS: perspective look at what we know about Acetaminophen,)
. The testing of some of these products also suggests the presence of other toxic chemicals, aside from nicotine. In addition, use of these products -when they contain nicotine- can pose a risk for nicotine poisoning (i.e. if a child of 30 Kilos of weight swallows the contents of a nicotine cartridge of 24 mg this could cause acute nicotine poisoning that most likely would cause its death) (KS: Why is this relevant? Once again playing on unsupervised children who would prefer to drink nicotine fluid, rather than say, flavored vodka or soda.)  and a risk for addiction to nonsmokers of tobacco products. Nicotine, either inhaled, ingested or in direct contact with the skin, can be particularly hazardous to the health and safety of certain segments of the population, such as children, young people, pregnant women, nursing mothers, people with heart conditions and the elderly. ENDS and their nicotine cartridges and refill accessories must be kept out of the reach of young children at all times in view of the risk of choking or nicotine poisoning. (KS: Really? This belongs here too, because we can't be too careful when "The safety of ENDS has not been scientifically demonstrated.") 
As ENDS do not generate the smoke that is associated with the combustion of tobacco, their use is commonly believed by consumers to be safer than smoking tobacco. This illusive ‘safety’ of ENDS can be enticing to consumers; however, the chemicals used in electronic cigarettes have not been fully disclosed, and there are no adequate data on their emissions.(KS: Okay, then set a reasonable standard.)

Is use of electronic cigarettes (ENDS) an effective method for quitting tobacco smoking?

The efficacy of ENDS for helping people to quit smoking has not been scientifically demonstrated. (KS: I don't need science to know it is better than smoking tobacco, and that I quit smoking practically instantly with it. I tried the patch and gum before without success.) 
ENDS are often touted as tobacco replacements, smoking alternatives or smoking cessation aids. But we know that for smoking cessation products to be most effectively and safely used, they need to be used according to instructions developed for each product through scientific testing. There are no scientifically proven instructions for using ENDS as replacements or to quit smoking. The implied health benefits associated with these claims are unsubstantiated or may be based on inaccurate or misleading information. When ENDS are used as cessations aids, they are intended to deliver nicotine directly to the lungs. None of the approved, regulated cessation aids, such as nicotine patches and chewing-gum, delivers nicotine to the lungs. Therefore, the biological mechanism by which smoking cessation might be achieved by delivery of nicotine to the lungs and its effects are unknown. Delivery to the lung might be dangerous. Therefore, independently of the effects of nicotine, it is of global importance to study lung delivery scientifically.(KS: I agree, and that is why I have a letter writing campaign to your boss, asking you to please be fair about it.)
The dose of delivered nicotine is also unknown. It is suspected that the delivered dose varies notably by product, which contain nicotine in various quantities and concentrations. (KS: Once again, set a standard)

Conclusion:

Until such time as a given ENDS is deemed safe and effective and of acceptable quality by a competent national regulatory body, consumers should be strongly advised not to use any of these products, including electronic cigarettes. (KS: Really? Even though I quit so easily, my friends have also quit, I received testimonials all the time. I save so much money. I stopped polluting the air, and the roads, beaches and parks with disposable cigarette butts, that never seem to disintegrate.)  

I am urging anyone who reads this to think about the logic, and then apply this same logic to other items. Think if this discussion was about chocolate nibs, coca beans, sugar (aka a million other names so that it doesn't appear first on ingredient labels). 

I am only asking for impartial fair leaders and authorities. Do you think that I am over reacting? 


Some recommended articles to check out about the NYC decision.
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