Electronic cigarettes continue to sell amid health concerns

Electronic cigarettes sell briskly despite concerns

Electronic cigarettes continue to sell in various markets around the world even as more health authorities successfully passed legislation against smoking in public places due to health concerns about the high-tech tobacco products. During the weekend, Spain became the latest European country that passed a law that prohibits smoking in bars and other enclosed public spaces. But officials lament the seemingly contradicting effects of the anti-tobacco measures which may only drive spurned smokers to turn to electronic cigarettes. Manufacturers and distributors of the said products are keen on expanding their business. "We have seen sales grow by 30 percent each year since 2007 when we launched our product," said a spokesman for EdSylver, a leading maker of e-cigarettes. EdSylver and others claim that their products are harmless and can even encourage people to quit smoking in the long run. But health officials warn that the devices still emit nicotine despite claims to the contrary. Anti-tobacco expert Eduardo Bianco told a health conference organized by the World Health Organization in November that electronic cigarettes "sabotaged smoking prevention efforts". The chief of the French National Committee Against Tobacco said that e-cigarettes have "ambiguous" uses and criticized their availability in pharmacy shelves. "This product offers no medical support for quitting smoking, there are some countries that have banned it," Professor Yves Martinet said. "For the moment, this product has not been evaluated in a scientific way". A typical electronic cigarette is battery-powered, with a heating component that transforms a solution inside a refillable cartridge into a vapor which the user can inhale.

Posted by George Daniels on Sunday January 02 2011, 2:56 AM EST. Ref: Inquirer. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Health. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0