News Report Asks ‘Are Electronic Cigarettes Safe?’

A news report was release from http://www.newschannel10.com in Amarillo, Texas which asked the question “Are Electronic Cigarettes Safe?”.  They went over a few facts and questioned some people for and against.  It’s a fairly light read, but at least shows people are talking about the subject.

Here are a few excerpts:

“Our smoking rates in the US have been stabilized around 20 percent,” Bharat Khandheria with the Texas Tech Health Science Center said.

To help those kick the habit, a hybrid cigarette was created.

“The reason they are said to be better than regular cigarettes is because regular cigarettes contain thousands of harmful carcinogens which cause cancer,” he said.

Electronic cigarettes still contain nicotine, but lack the cancerous chemicals.

Also:

Popular television shows like “The Doctors” say the electronic cigarette could be the key to preventing lung cancer.

Now, they also mention the price.  This is a funny point to me, since the didn’t go into the price of cigarettes.  So, let me do that for them.  They said:

The device isn’t cheap either and will set you back $70-$100.

Not to mention, you eventually have to purchase refill cartridges.

True on both accounts.  Now, the price of cigarettes, lets use, say… 6.50.  For a pack a day smoker, that comes to 195 for a month, 30 days.  A cartridge refill costs about 12.99 and they contain 5 cartridges.  That’s about 2.60 per cartridge.  And, a cartridge is about a pack of cigarettes.  So, if you buy a starter kit each year at the max $100, and a cartridge each day, that’s about… $1049 per year.  If you buy a pack of cigarettes each day… that comes out to  $2372.50.  So, bringing up price is really a bad comparison and that doesn’t even take into account most people buy the e-liquid that comes out even cheaper.

Next point:

But Khandheria is skeptical.

“It took us 30 to 40 years to say that smoking was bad,” he said. “To say electronic cigarettes are completely safe I don’t think I can say that right now.”

Valid point.  Nicotine, no matter how you look at it , is a poison.   This is in both Cigarettes and E-cigs.  So, that evens about, mostly.  Second, water vapor.  Ok, that’s just water.  Artificial flavors… if that’s dangerous, then we really are in trouble because it’s in everything we eat that isn’t organic.  Propylene glycol or Vegetable Glycerin… both FDA approved.  But, some people are allergic to propylene glycol, so they have vegetable glycerin to use.  Now, I still want the tests done.  But, really?  Comparing these to over 4000 carcinogens and 81 known cancer causing carcinogens?  Really?  Not that’s better for everyone, if you don’t smoke, don’t smoke e-cigs.  But not better for smokers?  Really?  Ok, end sarcasm.

So, all in all, not bad, but not that educated either.  Keep at it news guys!