Recently the Obama administration proposed to prohibit the use of electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigs on American airline flights, declaring there are worries that the so called smokeless products may be dangerous. “Airline passengers have the right to breathe clean air, that is why these new rules would improve passenger comfort and spare from any confusion regarding the use of e-cigs in flight,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in an interview.

The given ban would specify the present Transportation Department rule prohibiting smoking any tobacco products on airline flights. The proposal would cover all domestic airline flights, and also all scheduled flights of U.S. and foreign carriers flying to and from the U.S. At present the department is also examining whether to extend the ban to charter flights.

Electronic cigarettes are intended to deliver nicotine and other substances to the smoker in the form of vapor. This device is powered by small lithium ion-batteries. Producers of e-cigs state that there is no harm to the public from their use. “Everybody knows that when somebody is smoking on an airplane that is an impermissible thing. But this is not considering as smoking, this is vaping,” stated Ray Story, chief executive of the Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association. “I think that Transportation Department is asking for something that has no sense as this devise emits nothing. I don’t believe that people are aware that this isn’t smoking,” Story said.

According to the department representative there is insufficient data and knowledge of the ingredients in e-cigs. However, a year ago FDA researches found in a sample of e-cigarette a diethylene glycol, a very toxic chemical that is usually used in antifreeze. Electronic cigarette cartridges are replaceable thus might be used to deliver other than nicotine substances.

Some states have already implemented several steps to prohibit either the sale or use of electronic cigarettes. For instance Amtrak has prohibited the use of e-cigs on trains and in any palace where smoking is prohibited. The U.S. Navy has prohibited the use of this smoking device below decks in submarines. The association of electronic cigarettes, which at present is represented by the 25 manufacturers and distributors, stated on its website that e-cigs possess only five ingredients: nicotine, water, coriander, citric acid and fragrant orchid element.

Electronic cigarettes have been advertised as a way to address both the nicotine addiction and the other aspects of smoking as holding of a cigarette, puffing without a significant amount of chemicals found in cigarettes. Electronic cigarette was launched in 2002, but it wasn’t available in the U.S. until late 2006. The FDA lost a case last year after trying to declare e-cigarette as a drug-delivery device.

By Steve Shepherd, Staff Writer. Copyright © 2011 Cigarette-Store.org. All rights reserved.