E-Cigarettes Spark Health Concerns, Smoke Out Competition

The FDA is concerned over possible health risks associated with smoking e-cigarettes  electronic cigarettes made with pure, liquid nicotine. But, while the FDA is trying to stop the importation of new e-cigs, it isn’t confiscating those currently being sold in the U.S.

Smoking Everywhere , one of the largest distributors of electronic cigarettes (they have kiosks at the Roosevelt Field mall on Long Island, where at least one Guanabee editor enjoys sitting around and making fun of shoppers’ stupid outfits while drinking chocolate shakes), says they are “pretty sure” the devices are safe. 

Their CEO, Elicko Taieb, says: ”There are no ingredients in our e-cigs that can cause cancer. However, it is a pretty new product, so we are not 100 percent sure of the side effects at this point. But we haven’t heard of any negative side effects yet, but we are pretty sure they are safe.”

The cigarettes are battery-operated. When one inhales, the battery heats up the liquid nicotine. The combination of heat and liquid create a vapor “puff.” Scientists say that, while nicotine is not what makes cigarettes carcinogenic, they still need to do research to determine the effects of smoking it in liquid form. 

Sales off the product - which are given to celebrities for free in awards show gift bags - have been on the rise in Brazil, the UK, Sweden and Switzerland. Distributors hope that endorsements and use by celebrities will eventually inspire plebes to suck on e-cigarettes, too - even despite a lack of research into potential health risks.

We’ll stick to our roots and continue just huffing jenkem instead.

FDA hazy on e-cigarettes’ safety [CNN]