Comparison of Carcinogen Levels Shows that Electronic Cigarettes are Much Safer Than Conventional Ones

30 July 2009   Professor Michael Siegel. http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/search?q=

FDA in a press release on 22 July, condemned electronic cigarettes for containing cancer-causing  nitrosamines. However the levels in FDA-approved nicotine gum and patch are similar, and in cigarettes, much higher. (up to 5000 times higher).

 Table 1. Tobacco-specific Nitrosamine Levels in Various Cigarettes and Nicotine-Delivery Products

(ng/g, except for nicotine gum and patch which are ng/patch or ng/gum piece)

 

Product

Tobacco specific nitrosamines

NNN

NNK

NAT

NAB

Total

Electronic cigarettes (2)

3.87

1.46

2.16

0.693

      8

Nicotine gum (1)

2.00

Not detected

Not detected

Not detected

      2

Nicotine patch (1)

Not detected

8.00

Not detected

Not detected

      8

Swedish snus (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2400

Winston US (1)

2200

580

560

25

3365

Newport US (1)

1100

830

1900

55

3885

Marlboro NZ (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6600

Camel (1)

3100

1400

2800

150

7450

Skoal (1)

4500

470

4100

220

9290

Marlboro US (1)

4300

1800

4900

190

11190

Sources:

1.  Stepanov I, Jensen J, Hatsukami D, Hecht SS. Tobacco-specific nitrosamines in new tobacco products. Nicotine & Tobacco Research 2006; 8:309-313. (Link)

2.  Laugesen M. Safety Report on the Ruyan e-cigarette Cartridge and Inhaled Aerosol. Christchurch, New Zealand: Health New Zealand Ltd, 2008. (Link)

3.  Wahlberg I. Tobacco-specific Nitrosamines in Unburnt New Zealand Tobaccos. Report to Health New Zealand Ltd. Swedish Match, 2004. (Link)

 

25 July 2009  Row breaks out over safety of e-cigarettes. FDA finds fault with e-cigarettes 

                     “They are not going to die from an e-cigarette – but they could die tomorrow from a heart attack due to their smoking.  The carcinogens that we have found are in very, very small quantities, just above the level of detection.”  - Dr Murray Laugesen                                

                     http://www.3news.co.nz/Video/Lifestyle/tabid/372/articleID/113909/cat/64/Default.aspx#video>