Electronic cigarettes are more harmful than tobacco cigarettes
At the moment, the foremost debate on e-cigs is centered on just how healthful or unhealthful they are. And the truth is, no one really can tell. That’s because there haven’t been enough scientific, unbiased, controlled and peer-reviewed studies on the matter. Research paid for by big tobacco is only likely to reveal that e-cigs actually contain more harmful substances than tobacco cigarettes. It makes perfect financial sense for the major players on the tobacco market, but this alone does not make it true. As such, it’s important for consumers and health organizations alike to await more rigorous research before they deem e-cigs as definitely healthy or unhealthy. For the time being, no clear-cut conclusion can be reached.
Electronic cigarettes are riskier for children than tobacco cigarettes
If there is one aspect on which e-cig producers and regulators agree, it’s the marketing and sales of e-cigarettes at venues to which children also have access. Both parties know that this should be strictly prohibited. It might be argued that an e-cigarette is more expensive than a pack of tobacco smokes and thus less appealing and accessible for a child. However, it is equally true that e-cigs come with alluring flavors, such as cherry, vanilla, and chocolate. Since e-liquid can and most often does contain nicotine, e-cigs should never be available to children – not because they pose more serious health threats (as this has not yet been scientifically determined), but because they might turn out to be more appealing than regular tobacco cigs.
Electronic cigarette producers don’t want their products to be regulated
This could not be any less true. As a matter of fact, one of the most important piece of news in the world of e-cigs comes from the European Union, which has recently subjected its standard for tobacco products up for debate and amendments. It was for the first time in EU history that electronic cigarettes were included in this debate and the EU policy makers collectively decided it would be best for them to be sold as medical products. While this would impose a standard on producers (which is ultimately a good thing), it would also restrict nicotine dosage within the e-fluid to three pre-defined doses. This would take away one of the main reasons for which vapers turn to e-cigs: the ability to customize their consumption experience. So, it’s not that e-cig producers don’t want the world’s decision makers to standardize production of their devices, but they do want it to benefit the industry, rather than limit its potential.
