Ethical Controversy of E-Cigarettes Originally manufactured in China in 2003, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) were manufactured as a better way of inhaling nicotine without the health effects of smoking tobacco. They were developed to provide the tobacco user with a device that would heat up liquid nicotine and other chemicals including carcinogens that once heated would create a vapor in which the user would inhale. Unlike cigarettes, nothing is burned, and there is no smoke released from the device. E-cigarettes are marketed to the consumer as a better way of quitting smoking or just sustaining the craving of tobacco by allowing the smoker the pleasure of nicotine in reduced amounts. Currently, the FDA Center for Tobacco Products regulates cigarettes, tobacco, and smokeless tobacco and only e-cigarettes that are marketed to the consumer for therapeutic purposes are regulated by the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Without regulations, consumers do not know what the potential risks are or how much nicotine and other chemicals are inhaled and if there are any benefits from inhaling the vapors. Since there is no smoke released manufacturers encourage consumers to use the product in smoke-free environments. Oxford Dictionary named “vape” the word of the year in 2014. Farmer 2
Advertisements and media present inhaling e-cigarettes as being glamorous and a way to socialize as well as stating that vaping is family friendly.
No doubt, there is an urgent need for the government to regulate the manufacture, marketing and usage of e-cigarettes because the manufacturers of e -cigarettes will not disclose the content of the cigarettes and canisters. No wonder Olivia Rose (2014) concluded that other chemicals and the quantities included in e-cigarettes apart from carcinogen like formaldehyde are unknown.
Everyone always wants to be with the latest trend, and as many celebrities and magazine ads have pictures of vaping, electronic cigarettes have become a "trend”. People are largely unaware of the emergency risks of vaping. According to a study by Mitch Zeller he states, “I can say definitely, that nicotine is harmful to a developing teenage brain. And no teenager, no young person. should be using any tobacco or nicotine-containing products”. Unlike true cigarettes, electronic cigarettes do not have
Electronic cigarettes have been around for about a decade. No one is sure of what havoc they can cause yet because of how new they are in existence. Throughout the past years more and more issues have been arising from this product that was originally assumed to be harmless. Now we are faced with the question are they really as safe as we thought or should increase investigation to see what they are really capable of. So far researchers have discovered many issues with the electronic cigarettes and every month more and more issues begin the surface the air. From explosion to toxic material. These issues will not only affect their
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are devices that deliver aerosolized nicotine to the user by heating a liquid (typically propylene glycol) containing nicotine and flavoring agents. Most devices share a common design – a plastic tube containing a battery, an airflow sensor, a heating element and a cartridge containing the liquid (Figure 1).
The popularity of e-cigarettes and vapes has grown exponentially within the last couple of years. These two alternatives offer a “safe” way to consume nicotine or just a substitute to regular cigarette smoking. These products omit water vapor instead of tobacco smoke, constructing it as less of a health risk. Nicotine can be added to the mixture to help quit smoking or offer a healthier option to those with nicotine dependence. There has not been widespread research on conventional e-cigarettes, in addition to data on vapes been relatively premature. These smoking devices have not be regulated by the FDA yet, but the FDA has looked into e-cigarettes and its contents (FDA, 2015). Many e-cigarettes that are thought to be free of nicotine, have
There is a new trend hitting the market known as e-cigarettes, or “vaping.” Many people believe that e-cigarettes are better than traditional cigarettes, but research shows just how unhealthy and harmful e-cigarettes are for everyone. The FDA has not yet decided if e-cigarettes should be regulated like tobacco products. E-cigarettes are marketed to help people quit smoking and live a healthier nonsmoking life. E-cigarettes are meant to help break the habit of smoking, but why are there so many “toxic chemicals” (Gilger) in the vapor? Is this new invention to help people quit smoking or just another way for tobacco companies to get richer?
Electronic cigarettes, also known as "e-cigarettes", could potentially be heading for regulation after renewed debate about its use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
John Doe is an 18-year-old resident, Colorado. He’s active in his community and volunteers through the local public library, he’s a genuinely nice guy, and he’s a smoker. A few months ago, John Doe decided that he wanted to minimize his health risks from smoking cigarettes, so he switched to a new alternative: an e-cigarette. Electronic cigarettes contain no tobacco, and vaporize a vegetable glycerol fluid that contains nicotine, mimicking the feeling of smoking a burn cigarette without the tar, dangerous gases, and unpleasant smell (Block). In most states, smokers can “vape” in public places with their e-cigarettes, receiving the nicotine of a burn cigarette without complaint from others. Heavy smokers find that they can use e-cigarettes to gradually decrease nicotine and many use it as a gateway to quit smoking. Yet in the absence of regulation, sale of e-cigarettes to minors is only prohibited in twelve states (Lopes), and this is a definite problem. Adolescents may see vaping as a cool new thing to do and become addicted to nicotine. The lack of regulation in the e-cigarette industry especially contributes to this, as companies create appealing advertisements displaying a variety of new flavors. Furthermore, without Food and Drug Administration (FDA) screening, e-cigarette ingredients are unregulated and this could lead to unsafe or downright harmful products.
Why isn't vaping as harmful as Tobacco? Professionally made vape juices only have four ingredients instead of hundreds of harmful ones such as paint, rat poison, arsenic, and numerous other deadly chemicals. Vape juice should only contain Flavoring, Vegetable Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, nicotine if asked for, and distilled water sometime used to dilute if needed.
In the United States, the usage of cigarettes is slowly declining, making way for alternative forms of tobacco and nicotine sources to become popular. In the past decade, one of these cigarette alternatives has become very popular, even widely among teens, and it’s referred to as “vaping”. Vaping is the use of electronic cigarettes that replace burning paper and tobacco with flavored steam, which usually has nicotine in it (Kriegel). Since vaping hasn’t been around very long and hasn’t become popular until recently, not much is known about the effects or how harmful it could be long term. One source says, “There's also a widespread belief that e-cigarettes are safe, or at least safer than conventional tobacco products. But several studies have suggested this may not be the case,” (Fox). Although there is a very strong debate on whether e-cigarettes are a safe alternative for cigarettes, there are too many risk factors involved due to conflicting information and studies, for vaping to be deemed safe.
Except for a couple patents back around the 1960s, Vapes or electronic cigarettes didn’t come out for sale until the past few years. They first appeared in China in 2004 and spread to other areas including Europe in 2006 and then the United States the following year. These electronic cigarettes have spread all over the United States in shops and stores. Many US teens, despite age, have been interested in the vaping trend because of their “so-called” safe nature and harmless effects.
Due to the growing evidence showing that e-cigarette’s present potential harm to public health, in addition to the “skyrocketing” usage among the youth, the food and drug administration (FDA) issued (on August 8th 2016) new legislation that extended their regulations to e-cigarettes. This regulation is expected to serve the purposes of protecting public health, minimizing the risks associated with e-cigarettes and reducing youth’s exposure to these devices. Under this expansion, manufacturers will be required to report all ingredients and undergo a premarket review to obtain permission to market their products [PDF file]. . Furthermore, selling of e-cigarettes to those younger than 18 is now prohibited, in addition
With technological innovations happening everyday, many products are being created promoting health. Among these products is what is known as a e-cigarette. With no tobacco, tar, or even smoke, it has to be safe. Or is it? E-cigarettes were first introduced in 2006 as an alternative to smoking tobacco products. These e-cigarettes use vapor as opposed to smoke. The user still can receive their fill of nicotine with an added bonus of a flavor choice. With there first launch they weren 't seen as a breakthrough to many people and quickly was pushed aside. However, with growing technological advancements they have become a trending alternative to the normal cigarette. Many are quick to assume that the lack of actual tobacco results in a less dangerous product. But is it actually what it seems?
E-cigarettes have heating elements that are battery operated and hold cartridges of nicotine and other liquids and flavoring. They were produced to assist those who are trying to quit smoking or reduce the amount of nicotine that is actually inhaled in the body to make it a safer product for the consumer than actually smoking a cigarette. There is controversy on whether or not this product promotes a safer nicotine habit or stimulates someone to begin smoking habits. Most importantly, those who do not smoke at all are concerned whether or not the secondhand smoke emitted from these devices is harmful for those who do not wish to inhale nicotine products. There are states laws that
Hon Lik, a Chinese pharmacist is credited with the invention of the electronic cigarette in 2003. The product was introduced in the market in 2004 and foreign exportation of e-cigarette started in 2005/2006. Though facing some legislation wars in the United States from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the electronic cigarette is legal. E-cigarette market is rapidly growing all over the world. Thousands of new smokers are believed to be joining the bad-wagon of smokers each and every week globally. Within