According to U.S. health officials, testing the electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, displayed that they possess cancer-causing chemicals and other harmful toxins, even a component that is used in antifreeze.

E-cigarette represents a battery-operated device that features cartridges filled with nicotine, flavorings and other chemical substances. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the device transforms nicotine that is extremely addictive, into a fume that is inhaled. FDA alerted that these devices could encourage people to smoke.

Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, the FDA’s chief Deputy Commissioner, declared on a conference that public health experts, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Cancer Society and also the World Health Organization, expressed their anxiety about safety of these devices and also their concern that electronic cigs can rise nicotine addiction among young people and consequently lead kids to try ordinary cigarettes.

The FDA experts analyzed the ingredients contained in the cartridges taken from two electronic fags’ brands produced by leading electronic cigarettes’ enterprises across the United States such as: Florida-based Smoking Everywhere and NJOY headquartered in Scottsdale. Prof. Westenberger noted that in one analyzed sample, the experts disclosed diethylene glycol, an antifreeze constituent. In some other samples, experts found out carcinogens, including nitrosamines.

American Lung Association sustains the FDA’s concerns, declaring that e-cigarette producers sold these nicotine devices without FDA examination and approval for a long time. These facts indicate that FDA is serious about enforcing the law to guard consumers from unsanctioned products. As stated by the Lung Association, the group prompts the FDA to act straightway in order to stop the sale and distribution of all e-cigarettes that were not reviewed and approbated for sale by FDA.

The FDA argues that e-cigarettes are not only a drug but a device thus making them subject to U.S. government regulation under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

The most important concern of health experts is that electronic cigarettes are sold to young people. Dr. Winickoff stated that cartridges for e-cigarettes are available in different flavors as for example: chocolate, mint and bubblegum. As past experience suggests, such products can be particularly appealing to young people.

He also said that E-cigarettes can encourage children and young adults to start smoking cigarettes.

The representatives of NJOY made a declaration that they would defend the company’s product, because they do not market their products to children, and can guarantee that their products are not sold to minors as they demand from retailers to correspond with the requirements concerning the section where the product is placed and solicit verification of appropriate age as it refers to each state law.

By Sara Norton, Staff Writer. Copyright © 2010 Cigarette-Store.org. All rights reserved.