Testimony Monday on whether e-cigarettes should be banned in indoor places in New York included feedback from both sides: those who think it's healthy and those who don't think it should be allowed and consider the electronic cigarette as unhealthy as its tobacco brethren.
A New York Senate health committee took testimony Monday from experts on both sides of the issue. Advocates of the ban want the e-cigarette to be included as part of the state's Clean Indoor Air Act ruling that bans cigarettes in workplaces and indoor public areas.
Various research reports indicate there are no health issues regarding the electronic tobacco-related product but advocates of a ban say marketing strategies could prove unhealthy on a public health scope given advertising appears to be focused on young smokers.
"Federal law recognizes that the purpose of these flavorings is to addict children to nicotine and create a new generation of tobacco users," said Dr. Harlan Juster, director of the health department's bureau of tobacco control.
E-cigarettes have been promoted as safer than traditional tobacco-filled cigarettes and a transitional measure to bypass quitting cold turkey but recent research indicaes that there may be newly revealed issues.
Meanwhile the New York Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing, the first ever, Thursday regarding federal regulatory oversight of e-cigarettes.
The news comes amidst varying reports regarding the health issues with e-cigarettes and a move by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to mull regulatory action, including a sales ban to those too young to smoke traditional tobacco products.
A recent study reveals e-cigarettes may contain formaldehyde as part of the vapor inhaled by users and it's a known carcinogen that's also released in cigarettes.
The e-cig industry has long proclaimed it's a viable and safe smoking device that gets rid of the second-hand smoke concern and offers smokers a healthier product.
But in the past year the device has been subject to scrutiny by federal regulators and the FDA is seeking to develop new rulemaking that will give it control over the product, like it has with tobacco products.
"Tobacco remains the leading cause of death and disease in this country," said FDA commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. in a press release. "This is an important moment for consumer protection and a significant proposal that if finalized as written would bring FDA oversight to many new tobacco products."
Two cities now ban public indoor use of e-cigarettes. Chicago followed New York City last month, enacting a ban that outlaws smoking the vapor devices in any indoor place. New York City enacted a similar law, placing e-cigarettes under its current public ban on tobacco smoking, late in 2013. New York enacted its public cigarette smoking ban in 2002.
