Electronic Cigarettes a Brief History

Today I am writing about E-cigarettes, the relatively new device that has been replacing tobacco products for users around the world. In this article I will examine the brief history of the E-cigarette and the controversy it has evoked world wide.

First it should be said that these products are not available to children in most areas. Though they can be used without nicotine it remains offensive for some. These rules are adopted, not forced by rule of law by the individual retailer. simply because in this society the first line of defense in any questionable product market becomes “what about the children”. By voluntarily not selling to children the retailers look to protect their products from undue attacks by the Nanny state.

Of course this self regulation has been ineffective at quelling the opponents of the E-cigarette. Those opponents simply reoriented on the fact that sweet and minty food safe flavorings can be used to flavor the vapor and thus will be more attractive to children. What is not said is that the only dangerous ingredient in the mixture namely the nicotine is completely optional.

Credit for the invention of the e-cigarette is given to Hon Lik, a 50 year old pharmacist, inventor and smoker. He claims the device was inspired by a nightmare he has where he was drowning unable to breathe and was lifted up on a cloud of fog. Work begins in 2000. He gives the first prototype to his father who was dying of lung cancer.

"It was too late for my father, but not for me. I switched over myself to electronic cigarettes." he said later.

In 2003 Mr Hon's employer Golden Dragon Holdings took over development of the device and changed their name to Ruyan which means “Like smoke”

After a three year development cycle the first electronic cigarettes were released in Europe in early 2006, followed closely by their debut in The US and several other countries world wide. Touting the e-cigarette as a smoking cessation aid the devices got immediate attention from the world full of reticent Tobacco users who have tried quit smoking. And those who simply wish to replace the toxic gasses caused by combustion with the cooler less harmful vapors of the E-cigarette.

In 2008 The World Health Organization, without reviewing, taking part in or funding any studies whatsoever proclaim that E-cigarettes are not to be considered cessation aids and that all materials stating that the WHO considers such products to be safe or effective be removed from packaging and advertisement.

At nearly the same time a study funded by Ruyan and conducted by the New Zealand Health organization finds that carcinogens and toxicants are present only below harmful levels. Overall, the product tested was deemed a "safe alternative to smoking."

http://www.healthnz.co.nz/DublinEcigBenchtopHandout.pdf

In 2009 several countries health ministries and organizations banned the sale and import of Personal Vaporizing devices outright, citing various reasons. Canada for instance advises its citizens to not use PV's because some vapor contains a known irritant, namely Propylene Glycol which is also an optional ingredient. That can be replaced with Vegetable Glycol. This is not to be confused with

Also in 2009 the USFDA ramped up their efforts to stop distribution and exert regulatory control over the products. Their first foray involved adding e-cigarettes to Import Alert 66-41 and then directing the USCBP, the United States Customs and Border Protection to refuse those products entry to the US under the pretense that these PV's and liquids were “Unapproved new drugs promoted in the U.S.

In response to the DWPE the leading e-cigarette manufacturer Smoking Everywhere filed a federal complaint and sought an injunction against the USFDA's actions. They were soon joined by Njoy another leading manufacturer, and the the ECA (Electronic Cigarette Association) was formed.

Over the last year and a half the USFDA and other organizations have come out in opposition to the newer safer smoke free products. Several states have added language to their smoking bans to include the E-cigarette mainly on the grounds that they APPEAR to be emitting smoke and are thus somehow harmful.

Many of these efforts especially those that seem to spring from no where have been thought to be funded

The courts however are starting to come down on the side of the consumer in most cases. Denying requests to ban the sales or possession of these devices. So while we have not yet seen the end to the battles I for one believe that in the end we will see the E-cigarette come to replace its traditional tobacco counterparts.

As always I urge prospective users to fully investigate all of the information they can find regarding this or any other ingestible substance. Your life may depend on it.

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