The TVECA Questions Dilligence for E-Cig News Story

May 19, 2011 - PRLog -- The TVECA is questioning the diligence behind WMUR TV New Hampshire’s May 6, 2011 e-cig news report on the Electronic Cigarette (e-cig). The TVECA is very concerned that although the report did show e-cig users who were very satisfied that “they can get a nicotine fix without the harmful side effects of a lit cigarette” reporter Sean McDonald did not diligently or aggressively question interviewed public health advocates scientifically/factually inaccurate claims that “it’s a new product and we don’t know much about it” and “sales should be suspended until they are proven safe” when McDonald was given the full opportunity to review all e-cig science prior to interviewing Thomas Kiklas of the Director of the TVECA shown in the story.  In his report McDonald also reiterated a resoundingly discredited FDA report stating on screen, e-cigs contain “known carcinogens and toxic chemicals which users could potentially be exposed”.

Misrepresentations Made About The Electronic Cigarette
In the WMUR report, statements were made by health advocacy institutions such as Breath New Hampshire and The American Lung Association that are false in the face of extensive existing scientific studies and now the experience of over 1 million e-cig users in the U.S. representing over 1 Billion uses without a single incidence of harm. WMUR’s report contains statements that are not scientifically factual, since refuted and very misleading as seen below:

Beth D’Ovidio of Breathe New Hampshire stated: “It’s a new product and we don’t know much about it” and “there is not enough evidence to know whether it is safe of not”

Beth D’Ovidio: “….youth may become addicted to the nicotine that they are using in the e-cigarette and no longer be afford the cartridges (sic) and then switch to other tobacco products”.

American Lung Association: “….sales should be suspended until they are proven safe”

Sean McDonald: “We don’t know what happens when you are exposed to that vapor over long periods of time”

Sean McDonald: …something called propylene glycol which can be found in anything from food to antifreeze”

Sean McDonald: “..but questions linger mainly because when the FDA did their own tests and found known carcinogens and toxic chemicals which users could potentially be exposed”.

All the above statements are factually and scientifically inaccurate and lead one to believe the news story was produced to create a controversy where none exists. When one views the news story one hears that the users of the electronic cigarette in the piece greatly enjoy this option, do not want to return to the smoking of tobacco and will continue using the “e-cig” yet so-called “public health experts” cited and interviewed in the story made statements ignorant to all the available science on the e-cig. McDonald did not make any attempt to further question these very inaccurate statements used in the story by these experts nor further question those experts to support their claims that e-cigs are unsafe, lack scientific study and to suspend sales until they are proven safe.  In fact, on December 7, 2010, the DC Appeals Court hearing e-cig action brought by the industry stated ”Regarding harm to third parties and to the public interest, the district court observed that the FDA had cited no evidence to show that electronic cigarettes harmed anyone.” The e-cig contains only five common household ingredients that have all been in the U.S. food supply for generations and all have approved for human dermal and inhalation use by the EPA and FDA.  

The TVECA is asking journalists who report on this technology to take their time to fully research the electronic cigarette and aggressively question health advocates as to why they are not in support of this technology that so many Americans are using as the logical option to the smoking of tobacco-the one product we know kills over 400,000 Americans annually and is now greatly eroding big pharmacies nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) sales.

About the TVECA
The TVECA is an association of private sector companies engaged in electronic cigarette technologies. Member companies are involved in all sectors of the creation and promotion of electronic cigarettes. The TVECA’s mission is to provide the tools and information necessary for policy-makers, opinion leaders, media, and private sector companies worldwide to make informed decisions about the management and use of electronic cigarette technologies, particularly the most recent advances and applications. The association was founded 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’s activities and potential, and ensure the ethical use of electronic cigarette technologies.

To Contact The TVECA
For all media requests, please contact the TVECA at 888-99-TVECA (88322) or email at info@tveca.com.

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The TVECA is an association of private sector companies engaged in electronic cigarette technologies. Member companies are involved in all sectors of the creation and promotion of electronic cigarettes.