Long Island seeks outlawing electronic cigarettes
When Oregon Attorney General filled a lawsuit to halt distribution of electronic cigarettes, one New Your County didn’t hesitate to follow its steps, seeking to prohibit sales of the devices to adolescents.
John Kroger, Oregon’ Attorney General and Jon Cooper, from the Long Island’s Suffolk stated that their measures against the controversial devices are landmark for American Public Health.
The so-called E-cigs are battery-operated tubes that usually resemble conventional cigarettes in many ways, including the appearance and even have a glowing tip.
However, in place of smoke from burning tobacco, the devices have a heating element that boils nicotine mixed with water and other substances contained in a removable cartridge, and emit a vapor imitating secondhand smoke.
In addition, the majority of electronic cigarettes are made in China, but distributors state that the devices are healthier than common cigarettes, due to the absence of smoke. However, a recently revealed FDA examination of 19 samples of various brands of electronic cigarettes showed that almost 50 percent of all the samples contained carcinogens.
Cooper said that various health organizations, including even the World Health Organization warned people about the risks linked with the usage of these devices.
Kroger as well expressed his concerns over the lack of evidence about the safety of the devices and misleading ads, and said that he was especially preoccupied with the availability of various flavorings, including chocolate, cherry and bubble gum, which could be used to entice minors into trying them.
“The flavored electronic cigarettes would demolish all efforts we applied to educate teenagers that smoking is not a cool habit anymore,” Kroger added.
Two leading electronic cigarette distributors Smoking Everywhere Inc. and NJOY., have issued a lawsuit against the FDA, challenging the agency’s authority to oversee the devices.
Florida-based Smoking Everywhere denied appeals from Oregon legislature to halt the sales of its products across Oregon, resulting in a lawsuit against the state, which would be held this week in Salem.
The president of Smoking Everywhere Eric Taieb declined commenting on the issue.
The Oregon statement says that electronic cigarettes as well as other nicotine replacement therapies should be tested and regulated by the FDA, which demands producers to provide the agency with reliable and peer-reviewed proof that shows that the device is safe and efficient.
Similar statement was approved by the New York’s Suffolk County Legislature, which prohibits sales of electronic cigs to adolescents and bans their usage in public places equally with other tobacco products.
The Suffolk county ordinance should be adopted by County Executive Steve Levy. The spokesman for the Executive declared yesterday that would approve it.
