Electronic Cigarettes and the FDA

The Food and Drug Administration, anti-freeze and electronic cigarettes. What’s the connection?

The Food and Drug Administration found a small trace of Diethylene Glycol in a sample of solution used in electronic cigarettes.  This is the same product found in antifreeze.  The FDA has also expressed concern of teenagers becoming addicted to electronic cigarettes.  How valid are these concerns?  That’s what we’ll explore in this article.

Fact: Diethylene Glycol is a toxic substance, but just how toxic is it?

1. It has about 1/10th the toxicity of aspirin
2. It has 1/40th the toxicity of nicotine

You can also find Diethylene Glycol in a number of everyday consumer products such as:

• Mouthwash
• Wine
• Toothpaste
• Dog food (not that we as humans consume too much of this).
• Cough syrup
• Just to name a few.

It raises the question as to why the FDA is focusing so heavily on a minute trace of Diethylene Glycol which was found in a single sample, when the reality is there are a whole slew of FDA approved products contain traces of this substance?

Now there’s no question that you should be concerned about anything that you ingest and if there are harmful elements contained in any product, you most certainly should be made aware of that fact.  But to equate electronic cigarettes with antifreeze is, in this writer’s opinion, somewhat extreme.  After all antifreeze also contains water as an ingredient!  The point is it is important to be educated on the facts and not hysteria.

The FDA tends to give the impression that they have regulatory control over nicotine. That is not always the case.  They regulate smoking cessation products and claims.  That's why electronic cigarettes are marketed as a smoking alternative and not as a means to quit smoking.

Another of the FDA’s concerns is that electronic cigarettes target minors/teenagers.  This is a direct quote from an FDA report:

"These products are marketed and sold to young people and are readily available online and in shopping malls. They are also available in different flavors, such as chocolate and mint, which may appeal to young people".

There is no conclusive proof that the target audience for e-cigarettes is teens.  My experience is quite the opposite, with the marketing squarely aimed at buying “already smoking” adults.  The party line being that electronic cigarettes are a healthier alternative to tobacco cigarettes.  Another factor to consider is that the initial expense of ecigarettes far exceeds what your typical teen smoker would be willing to spend.

It is always prudent to take the time the thoroughly research something you may be interested in, particularly something you will ingest.  Only time will tell what the FDA’s final stance will be regarding electronic cigarettes.  In the mean time, keep reading and learn for yourself what the “facts” are and what is quite frankly BS!