quotes from the experts

8/9/2019 Quotes From the Experts

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measures, despite the already-existing basis for informed policy measures. They provide very poor role

models."

David Sweanor, Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa and former legal counsel for

Nonsmokers Rights Association. He has worked with the International Union Against Cancer, the World Health

Organization, and the Pan American Health Organization on the issue of tobacco harm reduction (from an

interview with ecigarettedirecto.co.uk/interviews/david-sweanor.html#ixzz0eaK16BJ0)

Though it is likely that the health risks of long term use of e-cigarettes are negligible, whatever small risk there

is, is beside the point. The point is that whatever risk there may be, that risk is so much smaller than that of

smoking. Smoking has so many health risks that any article about e-cigarettes that ignores the comparison

impedes the progress toward a healthier population."

Paul Bergen, M.Sc., M.L.I.S. is a Research Associate at the Public Health Sciences at the University of

Alberta. His research explores health mis- and disinformation in the media concentrating on but not limited to

tobacco issues. Together with Carl Phillips, he operates the TobaccoHarmReduction.org website.

We of course know that long-term use of nicotine poses a small, a very small but non-zero risk of some

cardiovascular diseases, so I suppose you could call that a side effect which is predictable for the long run, but

that's a total risk which is down in the range of drinking coffee, nothing remotely similar to the risk from

smoking cigarettes.

Dr. Carl V. Phillips, epidemiologist, health policy researcher, Associate Professor at the University of

Alberta Department of Public Health Sciences (TobaccoHarmReduction.org)

The FDA failed to mention in its press conference that the levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (the

carcinogens) detected in electronic cigarettes were extremely low, below the level allowed in nicotinereplacement products, such as nicotine patches, inhalers and gum. The agency is not threatening to take nicotine

patches or gum off the market, although they too contain detectable levels of carcinogens.

The nicotine in electronic cigarettes and FDA-approved nicotine replacement products is derived from tobacco,

which makes traces of some tobacco carcinogens essentially inevitable.

The level of the same tobacco-specific nitrosamines in conventional cigarettes is at least 300 to 1,400 times

higher than what has been detected in electronic cigarette cartridges. In other words, you would have to smoke

as many as 1,400 electronic cigarettes to be potentially exposed to the same amount of these carcinogens as

smoking one conventional cigarette."

Dr. Michael Siegel, professor at Boston University School of Public Health, who has more than 20 years of

experience In tobacco control. (http://www.emailwire.com/release/26503-When-Smoke-Clears-ECigarette-

Foes-Hazardous-To-Health.html)

Dr. Thomas Stern treats emphysema patients at Carolinas Healthcare System in Charlotte. He says an e-

cigarette is the best stop-smoking tool he's seen. Because it addresses two issues: One, is the nicotinereplacement issue. And then the other is (the) behavioral issue. The gums, the patches, the inhalers do not have


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the same feel, look, quality of the device so that it would help with the behavioral aspects of smoking

cessation.

National Public Radio, August 13, 2009 http://wfae.org/wfae/19_100_0.cfm?id=5343&action=display ASH supports a harm reduction approach to tobacco, that is, we recognise that whilst efforts to help people

stop smoking should remain a priority, many people either do not wish to stop smoking or nd it very hard to do

so. For this group, we believe that products should be made available that deliver nicotine in a safe way, without

the harmful components found in tobacco. Most of the diseases associated with smoking are caused by inhaling

smoke, which contains thousands of toxic chemicals. By contrast, nicotine is relatively safe. Therefore, e-

cigarettes, which deliver nicotine without the harmful toxins found in tobacco smoke, are likely to be a safer

alternative to smoking. In addition, e-cigarettes reduce secondhand smoke exposure since they do not produce

smoke.

Action on Smoking and Health, U.K. (http://www.ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_715.pdf)

William T. Godshall, executive director of Smokefree Pennsylvania, said he finds the debate about e-cigarettes

to be counterproductive. He agreed that clinical trials have not been conducted, but he finds it odd that a

government that can't seem to regulate cigarettes - which are known to cause cancer - is upset over a much less

hazardous product.

These e-cigarettes are at least 99.9 percent less deadly than cigarettes," he said. "Let's worry about the products

that are actually killing people.

From the Baltimore Sun (http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2009-05-18/news/0905170074_1_alternatives-to-

smoking-cigarette-smoke-e-cigarettes/2)

"Smokers smoke because they are addicted to nicotine in cigarettes, but it is the smoke, not the nicotine, which

causes a long list of diseases, including lung cancer, heart disease, stroke and emphysema." New York State Health Commissioner, Richard Daines, M.D.

(http://www.health.state.ny.us/press/releases/2008/2008-01-

28_commissioner_petitions_fda_to_make_nicotine_therapies_easy_to_buy.htm)

Nicotine is the addictive ingredient in cigarettes that keeps smokers hooked, but it's not the ingredient that

harms smokers' health," emphasized Ursula Bauer, Ph.D., M.P.H, director of the state's Tobacco Control

Program. "With safe nicotine products, smokers can give up the smoke without giving up the nicotine.

Ursula Bauer, Ph.D., M.P.H, director of the New York State Tobacco Control Program

(http://www.health.state.ny.us/press/releases/2008/2008-01-

28_commissioner_petitions_fda_to_make_nicotine_therapies_easy_to_buy.htm)

It really would be a cruel irony if smokers who had switched to E-cigarettes were ... forced to revert to

smoking regular cigarettes.

Dr. Adrian Payne, Managing Director of Tobacco Horizons, a Tobacco Harm Reduction Consulting

Agency (http://www.ecigarettedirect.co.uk/campaign/obama-letter.html#ixzz0eyQweoPO)


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QUOTES ABOUT ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE USE INDOORS

Second hand mist from an e-cigarette is not smoke at all, and does not contain any substance known to cause

death, short or long term, in the quantities found. It becomes invisible within a few seconds, and is not

detectable by smell.

Exhaled breath after e-cigarette use has been tested for CO only. No increase in CO was found.

The e-cigarette does not create side-stream smoke.

Exhaled breath after e-smoking contains even less nicotine per puff, as much of the nicotine inhaled is

absorbed. Similarly, propylene glycol is largely absorbed and little is exhaled.

No harm found in e-cigarette mist

Dr. Murray Laugesen, Health New Zealand, foremost expert on electronic cigarettes

(http://www.healthnz.co.nz/ECigsExhaledSmoke.htm). According to Raman Minhas, technical officer of

WHOs Tobacco Free Initiative, Dr. Laugesen is a respected tobacco control researcher.

(http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20126951.700-electronic-cigarettes-a-safe-substitute.html)

All that's happening is you're heating up a liquid to the point of becoming a vapor. So referring to it as smoke

doesn't make sense at all. Therefore, considering it subject to a smoking ban doesn't really make sense, either.

Dr. David Baron, Chief of Staff at UCLA Medical Center, from a video interview

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnVsVhystFw&feature=PlayList&p=CE289D5633179547&playnext=1&pl

aynext_from=PL&index=10)

There is no existing evidence that e-cigarettes pose a risk for nonsmokers. The nicotine exposure from the

exhaled vapor produced is likely to be extremely small and there is no reason to think that it poses a danger for

nonsmokers. But there is certainly no evidence to suggest that it poses a hazard.

Dr. Michael Siegel, Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Boston University School of Public

Health, who also has 20 years of experience in Tobacco Control (TobaccoAnalysis.blogspot.com)

The claim that the trivial amount of vapor would be much of a risk seems ridiculously far-fetched.

Dr. Carl Phillips, Associate Professor at the University of Alberta School of Public Health

(TobaccoHarmReduction.org)

There is substantial and compelling scientific research documenting that consuming the ingredients in e-

cigarettes (nicotine, propylene glycol, water and flavors) is vastly safer than burning tobacco and inhaling

3000+ toxic by-products. Claiming that e-cigarettes are dangerous for non-smokers is about as credible as

claiming that air travel is dangerous for people who never set foot in an airplane.

Dr. Brad Rodu, Professor of Medicine at the University of Louisville

(http://www.ecigarettedirect.co.uk/campaign/scientists-dispel-ASH-junk-science

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