William Atkins
Saturday, 20 September 2008 22:00
Science -
Health
Page 2 of 3
The electronic cigarette looks physically like a real cigarette, however, it does not contain any of the thousands of chemicals, and numerous of carcinogens and toxicants, that are found within real cigarettes. The user does not light it up and smoke is not expelled from it.
The e-cig does, however, contain nicotine in the form of a mist that is absorbed into the lungs of the inhaler.
The electronic cigarette is made of steel, with a cartridge that stores liquid nicotine in various possible concentrations. The electronic cigarette works using a rechargeable battery.
Bettcher states,
“It is of great concern that certain manufacturers of these cigarettes around the world have included WHO's name, for example on their Web (sites) or on their package inserts or on their advertisements, as having endorsed these products.”
He adds,
"Also there's no experience in pharmacology yet of nicotine replacement therapies which actually inhale nicotine into the lungs.” Bettcher comments that replacement therapies, such as skin patches, candies, inhalers, and nasal sprays, have been proven safe to use based on clinical trials and scientific tests."
WHO officials have sent letters to manufacturers of electronic cigarettes asking them to remove its name and logo from their marketing campaigns.
Bettcher adds,
"If the marketers of the electronic cigarette want to help smokers quit, then they need to conduct clinical studies and toxicity analyses and operate within the proper regulatory framework. Until they do that, WHO cannot consider the electronic cigarette to be an appropriate nicotine replacement therapy, and it certainly cannot accept false suggestions that it has approved and endorsed the product. " [WHO]
Find out who invented the e-cig on page three.
