Vapors from electronic cigarettes (“e-cigarettes”) contain toxic chemicals and carcinogens — FDA

Electronic cigarettes, or “e-cigarettes”, which are often sold as a safe alternative to regular cigarettes, give off toxic chemicals and carcinogens, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said today.

The battery-operated devices are available at shopping malls and online and are marketed to young people. They contain nicotine, flavoring, and other chemicals.

A laboratory analysis of electronic cigarette samples has found that some contain cancer-causing nitrosamines and other toxic chemicals, such as diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze, the FDA said.

Some brands that were labelled nicotine-free, in fact, contained the drug, which is considered highly addictive, the FDA said.

“Because these products have not been submitted to the FDA for evaluation or approval, at this time the agency has no way of knowing, except for the limited testing it has performed, the levels of nicotine or the amounts or kinds of other chemicals that the various brands of these products deliver to the user,” the FDA said.

To learn more:

• Go to the FDA’s Web page on e-cigarettes.

Category: Addiction, Lungs & Breathing, Smoking, Substance Abuse