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Let's fast forward a few years from now to the point where we determine that e-cigarettes contain some sort of cancer or lung disease-causing product / additive

Let's fast forward a few years from now to the point where we determine that e-cigarettes contain some sort of cancer or lung disease-causing product / additive, just like we figured out with cigarettes decades ago. What I don't understand is why the FDA will not outright ban them immediately. (Well I probably do, and the answer is lobbying.) Regardless of your stance on whether or not the FDA _should_ ban ingredients that pose health risks (government intervention on liberties et cetera), the fact is that this is the FDA's policy. It bans harmful ingredients (usually). So with that policy in place, what's the deal here? If and when e-cigarettes are found to contain a chemical that is directly linked to cancer or lung disease, will the FDA ban it? Or will it conspicuously let it slide, and just slap a warning on it, like it did cigarettes? https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-laws-regulations/prohibited-restricted-ingredients-cosmetics https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-laws-regulations/pro... https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/food-additive-status-list https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/food-addit...

inimino 7y ago
It's probably better not to create a black market for an existing, addictive product by banning it outright.
jdietrich 7y ago
There's no evidence that any of the ingredients of e-cigarette vapour are significantly carcinogenic. That may well continue to be true; there is no natural law saying that a habit you dislike must be carcinogenic. There are many possible formulations of e-cigarette liquid, with the only common factor being nicotine. We are extremely confident that nicotine isn't carcinogenic, although it may cause mild cardiovascular harm. If we find out that some of the other ingredients in e-cigarette vapour are toxic or carcinogenic, the industry will voluntarily stop using those ingredients immediately; they already did so with diacetyl.
- sosilkj 7y ago
  "We are extremely confident that nicotine isn't carcinogenic" I would not say that's the case. This article is a good place to start: https://tobacco.ucsf.edu/cellular-evidence-how-nicotine-and-e-cigarettes-increase-cancer-risk-humans-and-mice https://tobacco.ucsf.edu/cellular-evidence-how-nicotine-and-...

inimino 7y ago

It's probably better not to create a black market for an existing, addictive product by banning it outright.

jdietrich 7y ago

There's no evidence that any of the ingredients of e-cigarette vapour are significantly carcinogenic. That may well continue to be true; there is no natural law saying that a habit you dislike must be carcinogenic. There are many possible formulations of e-cigarette liquid, with the only common factor being nicotine. We are extremely confident that nicotine isn't carcinogenic, although it may cause mild cardiovascular harm. If we find out that some of the other ingredients in e-cigarette vapour are toxic or carcinogenic, the industry will voluntarily stop using those ingredients immediately; they already did so with diacetyl.

sosilkj 7y ago
"We are extremely confident that nicotine isn't carcinogenic" I would not say that's the case. This article is a good place to start: https://tobacco.ucsf.edu/cellular-evidence-how-nicotine-and-e-cigarettes-increase-cancer-risk-humans-and-mice https://tobacco.ucsf.edu/cellular-evidence-how-nicotine-and-...