E-Cigarettes Have Trace TSNAs - as do Patches

Source from:  Tobaccoreporter.com 01/18/2010

NJOY says a scientific analysis has determined there is no evidence that carcinogenic TSNAs [tobacco specific nitrosamines] are present in the aerosol of its brand of electronic cigarettes. These results addressed concerns raised by the Food and Drug Administration and others about product ingredients, the company said in a press note issued through Business Wire on Wednesday. Specifically, the analysis found there was no carcinogenic risk from TSNAs in the vapor inhaled by NJOY product users, or nonusers who might be exposed to the vapor passively. "In July the FDA released study information about the constituents of our electronic cigarettes that may have inadvertently misled the media and consumers about their health risks," said Jack Leadbeater, CEO of NJOY. "The FDA analysis evaluated only the contents of the cartridges used with our products, and not the constituents of the aerosol or vapor to which users are actually exposed, or the potential health risk, if any, that may be posed by that exposure." The press note said an FDA study had reported the presence of four TSNAs - N-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), N-nitrosoanabasine (NAB), N-nitrosoanatabine (NAT) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butaone (NNK) - in NJOY cartridges at levels so minute they were not quantifiable. The quantities of TSNAs were said to be similar to those found in other FDA-approved products. "Of the four TSNAs noted by the FDA study, only NAT has been shown through published scientific studies to be nontoxic and noncarcinogenic, and only NAT was found in the NJOY vapor and only at trace levels," the press note added. "None of the other three TSNAs were present in the vapor." "Based on my review of scientific literature, NAT is not toxic and not carcinogenic, and based on the vapor analysis, it is my conclusion that TSNAs do not pose a health risk to the users of the electronic cigarettes distributed by NJOY," Ben Thomas, PhD, a consultant with 35 years' experience in toxicology, pathology and risk mitigation, was quoted as saying. Thomas was said to have conducted the analysis in conjunction with the independent consulting laboratory ANALYZE. "This study and others conducted by NJOY also reveal that FDA-approved products offering nicotine, such as inhalers, gum and patches, contain TSNAs, but likewise at trace levels," said the press note. Enditem