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Ethical Controversy Of E Cigarettes

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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.

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