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Flavored e-cigarettes are exempt from the FDA's proposed menthol ban
The FDA has proposed a ban on menthol cigarettes that doesn't cover e-cigs, but could shape policy for the technology.
FDA criticizes Juul for telling students its e-cigs are ‘totally safe’
In a letter published today, the US Food and Drug Administration criticized Juul for telling students that its vaping products are "totally safe" and "99% safer than cigarettes." According to the letter, Juul portrayed its products as "modified risk tobacco products." That is, Juul presented its vaping products as having "a lower risk of tobacco-related disease or are less harmful than one or more other commercially marketed tobacco products." Such claims can only be made with FDA approval, which Juul did not have.
FDA targets teens with e-cigarette prevention ads
Today, the FDA launched its first e-cigarette prevention TV ads. Part of "The Real Cost" campaign, they're meant to educate teens on the dangers of e-cigarette use. The ads will target nearly 10.7 million teens, aged 12 to 17, who have used e-cigarettes or are open to trying them. The short clips feature street magician Julius Dein, who turns a vape pen into a cigarette before onlookers. The trick is supposed to highlight the fact that teens who vape are more likely to start smoking cigarettes.
Cigarette butts could be reborn as green energy storage
It's no secret that smoking is seriously bad news for your health, but the impact of the habit on the planet's health is pretty bleak, too. Every year nearly six trillion cigarettes are smoked around the world, generating more than 800,000 metric tons of cigarette butts. Something has to be done with them all, and they usually end up in landfill (or leaching into waterways). But now, scientists have discovered they may have a hidden potential: hydrogen storage.
Smoking triggers hundreds of DNA mutations every year
You know that smoking is bad for your health. However, scientists have just shed additional light on how those toxic chemicals can wreck your body. A newly published study has determined that a pack-a-day smoker typically produces 333 DNA mutations per year, and only about half of them (150) are in the lungs. There are also mutations in the larynx (97), pharynx (39), mouth (23), bladder (18) and liver (6). Many of those mutations are harmless, but you're effectively rolling the dice with every year that you puff -- you're triggering a "cascade" of gene damage that could lead to cancer.
Study identifies two new carcinogens in e-cigarette vapor
Most people won't dispute the claim that e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional smokes, but evidence is rapidly mounting that vaping isn't exactly good for you, either. Numerous studies have found toxic chemicals and carcinogens in e-cigarette vapor -- but a new study shows that the age, type and temperature of the vaporizer can effect just how toxic its emissions are. Researchers have also identified two previously unreported cancer-causing chemicals present in most e-cigarette liquid.
Trading addictions: the inside story of the e-cig modding scene
There is a rapidly growing subculture of e-cigarette users across the globe who spend countless hours tricking out their hardware. Vape modding, as it's known, blends technical craftsmanship, engineering creativity and artistry into one -- and unbeknownst to most, it originated right here in the UK. Some do it to get better hits, while others do it to give their e-cigs a unique look. The modders are also the staunchest of users, who credit vaping with allowing them to kick the tobacco habit. But as I found out, through the process of modding, these ex-smokers may have just traded one addiction for another.
Fancy ash tray rewards smokers for not littering with a song and light show
Some places impose hefty fines to prevent cigarette littering, but a group of Dutch designers believe that the answer lies in rewarding smokers for doing the right thing instead. So, the team designed a souped up trash can called Fumo that lights up like a disco ball and plays music like a jukebox when you toss in a cigarette butt. It even starts blinking the moment you step close, just so you know it's not some boring receptacle before you even get the chance to try it out -- and no, check the calendar if you must, it's not an April Fool's joke. The designers say the trash can can also be tweaked depending on the purpose: for instance, it can incorporate interactive elements for festivals or play solemn music if it's meant to be installed in front of a hospital. According to a recent research, around 4.5 trillion cigarette remnants end up as trash every year, so it really is a big issue that might only be solved by banning filters altogether. As to whether Fumo has the potential to minimize cigarette litter or if it's just a gimmicky idea whose novelty will wear off quickly, you tell us after watching it in action after the break.
Lighter tracks your smoking habits to shame you to quit
Ask any smoker: quitting is hard. Cigarettes become a part of your daily life, a habit that's not only hard to break, but hard to keep track of. "Tracking is one of the most important factors in one's health," Ata Ghofrani told us at a recent Haxlr8r event. "Being cognizant of our smoking behavior." Ghofrani and his partner, Kuji Nakano were looking for a way to track and reduce their smoking behavior, but found most health apps were dedicated to promoting positive behavior, not reducing negative ones. They soon teamed up to create Quitbit: a cigarette lighter that keeps track of how much you smoke.
FDA's new e-cigarette regulations target 'healthier than tobacco' claims
Proposals to officially regulate electronic cigarettes will be announced later today by the Food and Drug Administration, according to the WSJ. The regulations would include a ban on sales to minors and a requirement for health warning labels on packaging. E-cigarettes contain nicotine liquid, which is derived from tobacco -- and that's where the FDA comes in. "Right now it's like the wild, wild west in terms of what people are doing.." Importantly, makers would not be allowed to state that e-cigarettes are safer than other tobacco products ( manufacturers need to provide scientific evidence to prove these claims), nor use descriptive language like "light" or "mild" to describe goods. Companies will also be required to submit a "pre-market review application" within two years, although products will be allowed to stay on the market as long as the application is filed. Outlines will also restrict marketing on TV and any efforts to appeal to anyone under 18, although they won't immediately ban the wealth of flavored e-cigarettes that have recently flourished. FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg told ABC News: "Right now it's like the wild, wild west in terms of what people are doing, the products are evolving with no regulatory oversight and being marketed in ways that are very worrisome." The full list of regulations will be posted online by the FDA at 9am today.
Blu e-Cigs finally launches new 'Smart Pack' for social smoking, tweakable nicotine intake
blu Cig's electric cigarettes are already designed to offer users a "healthier" way to get their daily dose of nicotine without resorting to the classic cancer stick. Now, they've launched the long-awaited Smart Pack that alerts you of other users within 50 feet, perhaps for some enlightening small talk without the wrinkle-inducing ash. It also improves battery life and features a "convenient cartomizer" that lets you tweak the level of nicotine and flavor based on how hard you're fiending. Don't worry about running out, as the "Smart Pack" will even automatically reorder your smokes when supply dips -- how kind. In the future, the company hopes to integrate social networking features so like-minded e-smokers can build relationships out of their habits. But honestly, what's more addictive -- nicotine or Facebook? Check out the PR after the break.
Cigarette case made from an iPod
Cigarette packages will soon get their much-needed updated warning labels, but that doesn't mean smokers have to keep their cigarettes in the new packages. They can always opt for carrying them in their own cases like this custom-made iPod cigarette case. Marianne Wilson gutted her iPod after if broke and found that it was the perfect size for the cancer sticks. Now there's one more place for parents to check when they suspect their kids of smoking.
E-Lites electronic cigarette review: no one ever said healthy was delicious
I have the unfortunate distinction of being what people disgustedly refer to as a "smoker." Personally, I prefer tobacco inhalation enthusiast -- but idiot works just as well. For more than half of the time I've been breathing under my own power, I've felt the need to periodically interrupt the life-giving flow of oxygen with a delicious, but cancer-causing mix of carbon monoxide, nicotine, and tar. Sure there are gums and patches and even pills that can supposedly help you kick the nasty habit but, I'm a twenty-first century man, and I need a twenty-first century solution. Enter the electronic cigarette. These "smokeless" nicotine delivery devices aren't exactly new, but we figured it was about time we put one through its paces and for me to try (yet again) to quit smoking. So, I grabbed a "pack" of the newest offering from British company E-Lites and spent a couple of weeks giving the latest trend in smoking cessation technology a go. %Gallery-128444%
New research says e-cigarettes are safer than real ones, no cigarettes safer still
Research swayed back and forth on the health risks associated with e-cigarettes since their debut in the US about three years ago. The faux cigs, which are essentially nicotine inhalers intended to help smokers kick the actual smoking habit while still getting their dose of nicotine, the main addictive ingredient in tobacco. In the first truly comprehensive study of the somewhat controversial nicotine replacement method, researchers at Boston University's School of Public Health has found that not only are e-cigarettes much safer to "smoke" than normal ones, they may also aid in kicking the addictive habit altogether. According to the researchers, "few, if any" of the chemicals found in e-cigarettes pose serious health risks, and carcinogen levels in them are up to 1,000 times lower than in actual tobacco. This research, of course, disagrees with the FDA's findings that essentially, the chemicals found in e-cigarettes were risky and unknowable. The FDA has yet to evaluate e-cigarettes the way that they have done with all medications and other nicotine replacement products, so we can't be sure, but it's looking more and more possible that if you just need to smoke, an e-cigarette may be a safer route... for everything but your dignity, of course.
[1.Local]: Speaking of patch week chatter
Reader comments -- ahh, yes, the juicy goodness following a meaty post. [1.Local] ducks past the swinging doors to see what readers have been chatting about in the back room over the past week.Patch week? Oh, yeah. Speaking of patch week, we all knew that patch week was going to be rough. We knew there would be delays, and bugs, and restarts, and false starts. We knew that hardcore players would gripe, that newbies would be confused and that there would be plenty of contentious debate from all sides.What we didn't know is that we could be caught unaware by even geek crafts. Take it from mibluvr13, who took one look at the baby Hordie shirtfeatured in this week's World of WarCrafts column and began groping for the Escape key. "Ooooh, god," mibluvr13 moaned. "I never thought WoW.com would punch me in the biological clock. BRB, having a kid."The week in reader comments, through the bleary eyes of our punch-drunk, patch-distracted readers, after the break.
E-cigarettes contain carcinogens and toxins after all, FDA warns
In case you ever of the mindset that e-cigarettes were somehow toxin free, at least compared to the more traditional smokes, along comes the FDA to shatter your illusions. A report this week from the government agency calls out the product with a safety warning, charging that the cartridges they examined contained "carcinogens and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze." The FDA says it can't confirm the extent of the health issues, as it's only done limited testing and it hasn't been formally submitted for review, but it doesn't look quite as risk-free as previously touted. Don't say the WHO never warned ya. So remind us again, what's the point in smoking one of these over an old school cigarette?[Via Switched; thanks, flatlander85]
US Dept. of Defense splashing out on anti-smoking game for soldiers
We can think of a ton of better ways the US Department of Defense could spend the nearly $4 million it's investing in an anti-smoking game for soldiers. For instance: a bonfire; a rocket ship to the sun; or even a ton of Nintendo DS systems and the already-in-existence Easyway to Stop Smoking game. Instead, Alexander Prokhorov of M. D. Anderson Cancer Center will be taking the reins on the project, in tandem with Radiant Creative, and creating something akin to his past work with the company, Escape With Your Life (an anti-smoking game targeted towards "at-risk youth").Meant to teach players the dangers of cigarette smoking, the game will share many similarities with the developers' previous work, including a "standard-looking video game kiosk" presentation and a "depth of knowledge" education program meant to encourage soldiers to quit tobacco for good. Apparently, the game will also take around the same development time as most modern, AAA, console games, as Prokhorov's positing playtests for 2011 and a full release by 2013. [Via GameBizBlog]
3-in-1 cigarette lighter / air purifier / perfume dispenser won't make your cigarettes any safer, your car any less rank
We know you like nothing more than a fine cheroot after a late dinner, especially when you find yourself behind the wheel -- and no, one of those new-fangled e-cigarettes will not do the trick. What you need is the 3-in-1 automatic cigarette lighter / air purifier / perfume bottle. It'll light your light, filter your smoke, and what it doesn't get out of the air will be masked by whichever parfume du jour you choose to supply for included the 15 ml. reservoir (we suggest Hai Karate). Retails at $54.99, car charger included.
Cigarette lighter camera shows there's nothing more patriotic than espionage
Sure, Lady Liberty and a bald eagle are great symbols of American freedom, but they're also perfect covers for keeping tabs on your friends. Ajoka's cigarette lighter video camera discreetly records 640 x 480 or QVGA in AVI format at 30 frames per second and supports microSD up to 8GB. It's got a lithium ion battery for 6 hours of filming and is charged via USB. Best of all, it's still a working lighter -- perfect for cheering up your favorite band's love ballads and simultaneously bootlegging the performance. Your local spy shop can order these wholesale for $150 apiece.
E-cigarettes banned in WHO-ville
As it turns out, the World Health Organization (WHO) isn't condoning e-cigarette products -- shockingly -- as some manufacturers might like you to believe. In fact, the lawsuit flag is being waved at a few companies who brazenly plastered the organization's name and logo across promotional material, suggesting an endorsement of the product. The WHO's Douglas Bettcher asserts that the product is untested as a nicotine replacement therapy, stating, "If the marketers of the electronic cigarette want to help smokers quit, then they need to conduct clinical studies and toxicity analyses." So while e-cigs might not carry the same carcinogenic risks as traditional smoking, there are still plenty of health issues surrounding liquid nicotine and all the nasty additives it's served in... and the WHO isn't about to let you forget it.[Via PhysOrg]
