February 27, 2014

Stanton A. Glantz, PhD

ecig/tobacco companies push Los Angeles City Council to protect use of TV and movies to promote ecigs

According to an action alert distributed by Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights, the pending ordinance to include  ecigarettes in the Los Angeles Clean Indoor Air law was amended to exempt theatrical performances.
 
This seemingly minor amendment will have big effects given the fact that LA is a center for producing television programs and motion pictures, because it will make it legal to use ecigarettes in these venues, which could end up influencing youth all over the world to start using e-cigarettes and begin a life of nicotine addiction.  And the e-cigarette companies have been very aggressive in using Hollywood to promote their products.
 
There is no reason that this is necessary; this amendment should be dropped.
 
I also heard that the e-cig companies are promoting the CASAA report, "Peering through the mist:What does the chemistry of contaminants in electronic cigarettes tell us about health risks?" by Igor Burstyn.from Drexel University.  As I have discussed before, this report uses an inappropriate standard that grossly underestimates the risk associated with secondhand exposure to e-cigarette aerosol.
 
The vote is on March 4.

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