Earlier, Orlando ENT reported that electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are not as harmless as they may at first seem. E-cigarettes can cause throat and mouth irritation, dry cough, increased blood pressure, and may contain cancer-causing chemicals. The American Heart Association (AHA) is now urging the FDA to impose greater restrictions on e-cigarettes, including banning sale to children under the age of 18.
ADA’s CEO stated that recent studies have shown that e-cigarettes may be a gateway substance to traditional cigarettes and other tobacco products. This leads her to believe that e-cigarettes need to be more thoroughly researched and regulated.
On August 26, 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a report similarly calling for more regulations in order to combat the related health risks.
In addition to banning sales to minors, the new regulations would require e-cigarette makers to register with the FDA, list all ingredients and include health warning on packaging, and seek FDA approval before marketing their products or making claims of reduced health risks.
The new regulations don’t include flavored e-cigarettes or ban TV marketing or online sales. Future regulations may take those areas into account.
