History of the “E” Smoke

Seems everyone is trying to quit smoking these days. If you are trying to quit because you want to improve your health or because you are concerned about the rising cost of cigarettes, you may be considering electronic cigarettes a viable option. After all, the batteries are rechargeable and the nicotine cartridges are good for about 5 or 6 smoking sessions, and you don’t get all the tar or smoke associated with traditional cigarettes.

But there has been some controversy about these E-cigs, and for good reason. Let’s look at the history of E-cigarettes and see what the fuss is all about:

• April 2003: SBT Co. LTD patents the electronic cigarette.
• May 2004: First E-Cigarette is sold in China by SBT RUYAN Technology & Development Co. LTD. Sales in 2004 totaled the equivalent of 1.7 million USD.
• April 2006: E-cigarettes were introduced to the European market. Total sales in 2006 hit the equivalent of 37 million USD.
• May 2007: CNN visits RUYAN headquarters which draws worldwide attention. Two months later it is listed in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. (Reference http://www.ruyan.com.cn/operNews.do?action=cNewList&info_sort=12)
• September 2008: World Health Organization asks E-cigarette marketers to halt unproven health claims and asks for clinical trials to be performed to prove those claims. (Reference http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2008/pr34/en/index.html)
• March 2009: Health Canada releases an advisory against electronic cigarettes warning of the risk of nicotine poisoning. (Reference http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2009/2009_53-eng.php)
• May 2009: FDA releases a study finding of diethlene glycol in one of the cartridges they tested and variable amounts of nicotine delivered when drawing on the device. (Reference http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/ScienceResearch/UCM173250.pdf)
• June 2009: Dr. Murray Laugesen of Health New Zealand LTD sends an open letter to the Electronic Manufacturers Association stating the precautions required for use of E-cigarettes, including not tipping the device above mouth level stating that the liquid could ooze out and drain on the skin. This same report says to avoid liquid nicotine and that refilling the cartridges with nicotine liquid, easily available on the internet, could result in a lethal poisoning of a child. This same month Dr. Laugesen sends a letter to the New York Times asking to keep the E-cigarettes “on sale.”(Reference http://www.healthnz.co.nz/ecigarette.htm)
• January 2010: Judge Richard J. Leon rules that the FDA cannot block the importation of E-cigarettes from China stating that they should be regulated just like tobacco products.
• March 2010: US Court of appeals reinstates FDA’s ability to keep the devices from entering the country stating that the E-cigarette is excluded as a tobacco product and should be considered a medical device.

This device will certainly undergo more safety testing and with the dangers surrounding the nicotine liquid and the possible injuries of those refilling their cartridges, we may unfortunately see deaths as a result of this product. It has already been banned in Singapore and several other countries overseas. The story of E-cigs is just beginning, and it’s not likely to have a happy ending.