(ABC News)--There
is no scientific proof that electronic cigarettes are useful in combating
smoking addiction and they should not be used by young people because they are
still delivering nicotine to the body, a study by the Italian Health Ministry
said today.
The gadgets often known as e-cigarettes have growing in popularity in Italy as well as the U.S.
The Health Ministry report, published Friday, warned that this "fashion
gadget" should not be used by young people because, even if smaller
quantities of nicotine are inhaled in this way, there are still serious
potential health risks. The report also raised the concern that the use of this
gadget could lead young people to graduate from these devices to smoking real
cigarettes.
An association of electronic cigarette makers at the report's claims and
said the device is intended to help people who are already smokers.
The e-cigarette is basically an electronic inhaler made up of a plastic
cartridge that acts as a mouthpiece, a battery, a reservoir for a liquid aroma
solution and an "atomizer" that vaporizes the liquid. Some of the
aroma solutions contain nicotine indifferent concentrations. It produces a
smoke-like vapor that simulates the act of tobacco smoking and when inhaled
delivers the nicotine, if used in the liquid-base, into the bloodstream via the
lungs.
Roberta Pacifici, director of Italy Observatory on Smoking, Alcohol and Drug
Use at the National Health Institute, who worked on the report, told Italian
news agency ANSA, "We can say that the electronic cigarette is less toxic,
but we cannot say that it is totally innocuous."
"We have to have a prudent approach towards this product as we know
little about its worth in stopping people smoking or how toxic it is," she
said.
The international scientific reports studied "do not reassure us about
the effectiveness or the innocuousness of its use," Pacifici said.
She conceded that even though there are different strengths of nicotine
concentrations in the liquids available the actual amount of nicotine in an electronic
cigarette is markedly lower than in a normal cigarette "and a traditional
cigarette when smoked produces over 400 substances which are mostly
carcinogenic and absolutely toxic."
Legislation concerning e-cigarette and its liquids use and sales varies
throughout the world since the e-cigarette first went on the market less than
10 years ago now. Many countries are awaiting further tests but are reluctant
to warn against its use as it is recognized that it can help some smokers to
cut their cigarette consumption which could lead to a lower mortality rate from
cigarette smoking. A limited amount of scientific tests and controlled studies
are available as the product is a relatively new invention.
Pacifici told Italy's
La Repubblica daily paper, "Should its efficacy as a means to curb smoking
be proven it should still be treated like all the other substitutive nicotine
products like nicotine gum and band aids...as a medical device." Her
institute has also recommended that it should be sold with a detailed health
information note. For now the only warnings are against the sale of the product
to under-16 year olds and the recommendation to keep the product away from
children.
E-Cigarettes Subject of Health Warning
Selvaggia Gurrieri bought her electronic cigarette nearly two months ago and
says it has helped her cut down on cigarettes. "I use it in places where I
cannot smoke like in restaurants and at the movies and it has helped me cut
down on the amount of cigarettes I smoke." However she now
"smokes" in bed too, her non-smoking partner, added.
Another Roman, Marco Guerrieri, bought his first electronic cigarette three
months ago and says he has already recouped the $100 approximate cost he spent
on it as he has gone from smoking about 20 cigarettes to only five a day.
"I don't know if it has really become a fashion yet but people know what
it is now. I use it at the movies, at restaurants, in the airports and on
planes...and nobody has once stopped me mistaking the vapor for smoke."
'I gave my girlfriend's father one for Christmas but he tried it for a day
and gave it up. It was too complicated for him and too hard for him to switch
now from the traditional cigarette."
Ray Story, CEO of The Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association, said
there was no proof e-cigarettes had ever harmed anyone and that attacks on
e-cigarettes were more about protecting revenues than public health.
"In Italy,
tobacco is sold through government stores. That old Mafioso-type environment
protects its own," he said.
Story said e-cigarettes don't claim to help people quit smoking.
"Yes, nicotine is addictive, like caffeine and sugar. We're not in the
non-addictive business. We cater to someone who is already a smoker. Starbucks
sells coffee; Coca-Cola sells cola. Both have caffeine. But e-cigarettes
deliver nicotine in the cleanest way," he said.
Regarding the Health Ministry's recommendation that e-cigarettes not be
given to young people, Story said: "Not giving them to young people is
common sense. … We have age verification on our products."
He scoffed at the concern that the use of this gadget could lead young
people to graduate from these devices to smoking real cigarettes. "Yeah,
and virgin daiquiris make people alcoholics. It's absolutely inaccurate;
there's no proof," Story said.
Copyright 2012 by ABC News
