FDA Warns: ‘E-Cigarettes’ Contain Toxic, Cancer-Causing Chemicals

The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers about the dangers of electronic cigarettes, which are battery-operated, smoke-free devices that deliver nicotine but also contain ingredients found in antifreeze and other potentially deadly toxins.

E-cigarettes, as they are called, convert nicotine and other chemicals into a vapor that can be inhaled. They are commonly marketed to young people and sold in stores as well as over the Internet. The products are not reviewed or approved by the FDA for safety and effectiveness and do not carry the same health warnings as conventional cigarettes or FDA-approved nicotine replacement products, such as gums and skin patches.

Because e-cigarettes are not regulated in the same way as other nicotine-replacement devices, health officials said they cannot confirm or monitor the levels of nicotine and other chemicals contained in them. As a result, FDA officials are warning that e-cigarettes can increase nicotine addiction and tobacco use, particularly in young people, and expressing concerns about how the products are marketed.

They are available in different flavors, such as chocolate and mint, which may appeal to young people, the FDA warned.

FDA Testing Finds Toxic Chemicals

FDA testing of sample cartridges from two leading brands of e-cigarettes detected cancer-causing carcinogens and other toxic chemicals in the products, officials said. The FDA found diethylene glycol, a chemical found in antifreeze that is toxic to people and animals, as well as nitrosamines and potentially dangerous amounts of other chemicals.

Health-safety officials have been detaining and examining shipments of e-cigarettes coming into the U.S. and testing the products. The FDA said most of the products being examined qualify as combination drug-device products that fall under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. A lawsuit now making its way through federal court could give the FDA authority to regulate e-cigarettes.

E-cigarettes are an increasing threat to consumer health that may soon fall under greater FDA scrutiny.

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