| The American Association of Public Health | | | | organization in their petition. They state that they |
| Physicians submitted a petition to the US Food | | | | believe that many smokers struggle with a |
| and Drug Administration on February 23rd in | | | | second addiction to smoking, which is the habit of |
| response to their official stance concerning | | | | carrying a pack of cigarettes and lighter, holding |
| electronic cigarettes. They cite many concerns, | | | | the cigarette when it is lit, and the act of smoking |
| including legal, ethical, epidemiological, medical, and | | | | it. It is said in their report that there is a significant |
| the impact on public health the products could | | | | number of electronic cigarette users who have |
| have in the future. | | | | been successful in switching over to e-cigarette |
| The AAPHP's recent petition dealt with their | | | | liquid which contains no nicotine while they continue |
| request that the FDA reclassify the products | | | | to perform the ritual of "smoking." |
| from a "drug-device combination" to a "tobacco | | | | Continuing on through the petition, they state that |
| product." They are currently urging all supporters | | | | electronic cigarettes, unlike conventional cigarettes, |
| of electronic cigarettes to leave the FDA | | | | produce no sidestream smoke; that is, smoke |
| comments on the docket for their petition so the | | | | that is emitted from a cigarette when it is not |
| will of the people may be made known . The | | | | being puffed on. The fact that electronic |
| AAPHP believes in and promotes harm reduction, | | | | cigarettes also have no combustion is mentioned |
| unlike other mainstream health organizations who | | | | again, this time in reference to the amount of |
| reject the concept. | | | | property damage done every year due to fires |
| According to the AAPHP, all tobacco products are | | | | caused by lit cigarettes. |
| "nicotine delivery devices" and that the largest | | | | The AAPHP states that classifying electronic |
| portion of illness and death from conventional | | | | cigarettes as tobacco products would enable the |
| cigarettes is due to the products of the | | | | FDA to impose manufacturing quality regulations, |
| combusted tobacco, not the chemicals and other | | | | much in the same way pharmaceutical companies |
| substances found in tobacco cigarettes. The | | | | are expected to produce their products. |
| carcinogens are not what cause the majority of | | | | "Objections to FDA approval of e-cigarettes as |
| the health problems; the smoke causes it when it | | | | tobacco products are speculative and largely |
| is inhaled deeply into the lungs and held there. | | | | based on misinformation," states the petition. |
| " E-cigarettes, more than any other tobacco or | | | | How well the petition will be noticed by the FDA is |
| tobacco-related product, satisfies both the | | | | uncertain, but the complete document can be |
| habituation and nicotine addiction," says the | | | | found at here in PDF format. |