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The Battle Over Electronic Cigarettes

The electronic cigarette (http://www.e-cig.org), or e-cigarette, is a unique product that uses a lithium ion battery and a small heating element called an atomizer to vaporize a solution into vapor that can be inhaled and exhaled much like traditional smoke. The difference There is no combustion, just vaporization. This eliminates the tar to the user and the second hand smoke normally associated with cigarettes.

The opponents of the technology have cited various reasons as to why the electronic cigarette should be banned. The most common arguments include; they may be marketed to children and that they haven'st been proven as a safe and effective smoking cessation device by the FDA.

James Watt, President of Instead Electronic Cigarettes (http://www.e-cig.org/sale), addressed these concerns by saying Although some unscrupulous suppliers may not be verifying age before selling the product, the vast majority are only selling to those of legal smoking age. To ban a product because of a few bad apples is not sound policy.

And when asked about the safety and effectiveness of the electronic cigarette as a smoking cessation device, Mr. Watt responded by saying, For those who want to claim it is a smoking cessation device, then they should do the testing. I believe smokers should have the right to choose an alternative to smoking that doesn'st contain the 4,000+ chemicals found in tobacco smoke. Quit or die is a flawed philosophy

And what is in the solution that the e-cigarette vaporizes The most common ingredients include Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Water, Flavoring, and optionally - nicotine. The solution, or ELiquid, comes in various levels of nicotine or no nicotine at all.

Earlier this year, Instead LLC helped found the Electronic Cigarette Association (http://www.ecassoc.org) who'ss mission is to institute and promote industry-wide standards and a code of conduct, work to maintain sound professional practices, educate the public and policy-makers on the industry'ss activities and potential, and ensure the ethical use of electronic cigarette technologies.

The ECA will help the industry in many ways, including to battle misinformation being disseminated by those with a vested interested in competing industries, such as pharmaceuticals. says James Watt, the ECA Vice Chairperson. The requirements of suppliers hoping to join the ECA include agreeing not to make unproven claims and to only sell electronic cigarettes to those of legal smoking age.

Users of the technology have been voicing their opinions about the electronic cigarette and concerns over talk of a ban, via an online petition that was started on March 15, 2009 and to date includes over 10,000 names (http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/keep-life-saving-electronic-cigarettes-available).

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