Electronic Smoking Products – Not Fully Evaluated
Published on April 3, 2009 6:05 AM
Researches from Canada are not sure yet that electronic cigarettes are safer than cigarettes. That’s why they advice smokers do no purchase or use electronic smoking products, which may pose health risks and have not been fully evaluated for safety and quality. And they also have instructed businesses not to promote or sell them until the government will evaluate their safety.
Scientists added that the products such as - electronic cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos and pipes, as well as cartridges of nicotine solutions and related products - require market authorization before they can be imported, advertised or sold.
In Canada, electronic smoking products have no market authorization yet. However in recent months, a number of electronic smoking products have been marketed in Canada and through the Internet too.
All electronic smoking products use a battery-powered system that vaporized a liquid chemical mixture that may be composed of various amounts of nicotine, propylene glycol and other chemicals.
Health Canada said: "Nicotine is a highly addictive and toxic substance, and the inhalation of propylene glycol is a known irritant. Although these electronic smoking products may be marketed as a safer alternative to conventional tobacco products and, in some cases, as an aid to quitting smoking, electronic smoking products may pose risks such as nicotine poisoning and addiction."
Health Canada prohibit electronic smoking products, instead of this it has approved the sale of such nicotine-containing smoking-cessation aids as gum, patches, inhalers and lozenges.
Electronic smoking products must be kept away from children, who are at risk for choking or nicotine poisoning, added Canadian scientists.
Canadians who have used e-cigarette products and are concerned about their health should consult a health-care doctor.
