Los Angeles Times – August 02, 2010
THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC: ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES
While acknowledging that an FDA study did find traces of carcinogens, he pointed out that banning items based on the quantities found would also mean the FDA would “…have to ban half the foods that are available.”
The carcinogens, he explained, were also found in FDA approved smoking cessation aids, and indeed in all products that utilised nicotine from tobacco plants.
According to the professor, much criticism of the electronic cigarettes by public health was due to an all out war on tobacco. He compared it to the problem of drug use, saying that people who are utterly opposed to the use of drugs also oppose needle exchanges, despite the fact that needle exchanges could save many lives.
The Professor did have some reservations about quality, saying that there was a need for regulation of the production of electronic cigarettes.
Professor Carl Phillips, who runs the TobaccoHarmReduction.org site, is one of a number of experts in tobacco and Tobacco Harm Reduction who have come out in favour of the device. Other experts who have have spoken out in favour of the electronic cigarette in interviews include Dr Joel Nitzkin, Chair of the Tobacco Control Task Force for the American Association of Public Health Physicians, Professor Siegel, a specialist in preventative medicine and public health, and David Sweanor, a former advisor on tobacco control to the WHO (World Health Organization).
To read the full interview with Professor Carl Phillips visit http://www.ecigarettedirect.co.uk/carl
E Cigarette Direct is the UK based online retailer of the NJOY electronic cigarette. E Cigarette Direct has a strong interest in promoting research into the electronic cigarette and tobacco harm reduction. More information on the product as well as several technical articles, interviews and information can be found on its website ecigarettedirect.co.uk.
To watch the interview on Discovery Channel go to:
http://watch.discoverychannel.ca/clip168932#clip168932
http://watch.discoverychannel.ca/daily-planet/may-2009/daily-planet-may-05-2009/#clip168932
