Electronic cigarettes are a “rapidly growing Internet phenomenon” that may pose unknown risks, two doctors and a researcher from Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital write in an opinion piece for the Annals of Internal Medicine. E-cigarettes “may pose a risk as starter products for nonusers of tobacco,” could release dangerous toxins, and are unproven as smoking-cessation aids, write the authors, led by David W. Bates, M.D., MSc.
ACSH’s Dr. Elizabeth Whelan doesn’t see why e-cigarettes would appeal to adolescent non-smokers. “I just don’t see that. I don’t see them putting out money to get a cartridge and make-pretend cigarette.”
“These people are going through all kinds of machinations to point out the dangers of e-cigarettes, but what about the dangers of smoking?” says Dr. Ross. “It seems like anyone can get a paper published attacking harm reduction in all its forms — smokeless tobacco or e-cigarettes — without any data.”
Meanwhile, a charter jet company has decided to offer free e-cigarettes to passengers after losing a customer who would have paid $300,000 for a trip to South Africa but backed out after learning he couldn’t smoke during the flight, USA Today reports. Global Exec Aviation of Long Beach, Calif., is partnering with Blu Cigs for the promotion; the e-cigarette manufacturer hopes other airlines follow suit.
Dr. Whelan favors permitting e-cigarette use on airplanes, since there is no danger of fire or flame, and it might help to demonstrate that e-cigarettes can satisfy smokers’ craving for nicotine without exposure to the lethal products of combustion.
