ASH Claims E-Cigarettes Are “Relatively Harmless”
It is another bizarre twist in the electronic cigarette battle over the safety of this new product that has hundreds of thousands of followers across the United States and a growing number of supporters around the world.
ASH UK has all but put their name on the dotted line in endorsement of the e cigarette as a safe and plausible substitute to the traditional tobacco cigarette with their new report and also agrees with the e cigarette industry that they may be an acceptable alternative to tobacco.
“ASH supports a harm reduction approach to tobacco, that is, we recognize that while efforts to help people stop smoking should remain a priority, many people either do not wish to stop smoking or find it very hard to do so. For this group, we believe that products should be made available that deliver nicotine in a safe way, without the harmful components found in tobacco. Most of the diseases associated with smoking are caused by inhaling smoke which contains thousands of toxic chemicals. By contrast, nicotine is relatively safe. Therefore, e cigarettes, which deliver nicotine without the harmful toxins found in tobacco smoke, are likely to be a safer alternative to smoking. In addition, e-cigarettes reduce secondhand smoke exposure since they do not produce smoke.”
While ASH does believe that e cigarettes may be a good alternative to tobacco, they have some concerns about the e cigarette and states “most deliver a low dose of nicotine which may not give a typical smoker a sufficient ‘hit’ to satisfy cravings, discouraging smokers from continuing to use them.”
ASH UK does not seem to be worried about high doses of nicotine, but rather that the e cigarette does not deliver enough nicotine which is a direct contradiction of the American based ASH, which has been openly caught in a conflict of interest in its attack on e cigarettes in the United States by accepting funds from major pharmaceutical companies who may compete in an open market someday concerning cessation products.
By Tiffany Ellis.
