Exposure to Aerosolized Chemicals from Popular E-Cigarettes Has Many in Puerto Rico Concerned

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - June 29, 2015 - PRLog -- In 2013, Puerto Rico’s attorney general joined dozens of other attorney generals in a letter sent to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration urging the regulation of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes).  Puerto Rico had already taken a strong stance against traditional tobacco smoke with the 2007 implementation of Puerto Rico’s Law 66.  It banned smoking in most enclosed work spaces, bars, restaurants and even in private vehicles when children under the age of 13 are present.

As of today, only e-cigarettes that are marketed for therapeutic purposes are regulated by the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER).  Whereas, the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) currently regulates cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco and other smokeless tobacco products.

E-cigarettes have been growing exponentially in popularity in recent years and are one of several smoking cessation methods. Others, who have never smoked in the past, are also using e-cigarettes.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than a quarter of a million youth in the United States who had never smoked a cigarette used electronic cigarettes in 2013. This number reflects a three-fold increase, from about 79,000 in 2011, to more than 263,000 in 2013.

Due to the fact that e-cigarettes still deliver addictive nicotine and could expose others to nicotine and various other chemicals, many public health advocates are wary of their use.  “E-cigarettes were not common in Puerto Rico when Law 66 was originally passed,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental.  “With the increasing popularity of e-cigarettes here and across the Caribbean, exposure to aerosols from these devices are a growing concern for many.  In addition to nicotine, other substances may be inhaled by users and those in the vicinity.  Aerosolized flavorings along with propylene glycol, glycerin and other substances may be exposing people to airborne pollutants that could have health implications.”

Zimmetry Environmental provides air testing and consulting services to identify exposure risks due to environmental tobacco smoke, aerosols from e-cigarettes and other chemical and microbial pollutants. These services are available across Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.  Zimmetry also recently sponsored an educational video about e-cigarettes and indoor environmental concerns that can be seen at: http://youtu.be/8GQ1P-n8r8I



To learn more about this or other indoor air quality (IAQ), environmental and compliance testing and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com.

About Zimmetry Environmental

Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies.  The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America.  The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase IESAs and general environmental consulting services.