FDA is starting to get worried about adverse health effects of e-cigs

Today (March 11, 2019) FDA Commissioner Gottlieb released a statement on the FDA’s new budget request.  He continues to express enthusiasm for e-cigs as an alternative to combusted cigarettes, but there are finally some notes of caution appearing in his assessment of their health effects for adults.

Here is the relevant part of the statement (my emphasis):

“The FDA is fully committed to a pathway for the efficient and effective regulation of ENDS products. These products have the potential to offer currently addicted adult smokers a way to fully transition off cigarettes, but still enable them to get access to satisfying levels of nicotine, but potentially without the same risks as combusting tobacco. But the e-cigarettes must be put through an appropriate series of regulatory gates to properly assess their risks and to understand their potential to help smokers who completely switch from combustible tobacco.

For example, we have studies underway—including investigations that the FDA commissioned—to look at the potential for direct effects of harm from e-cigarettes on the lungs and other health factors that these products could negatively impact. This also includes the potential for products to cause changes that could be a precursor to cancer. We should be concerned about these potential risks and must have a regulatory program that can fully evaluate them. This is one reason why we so strongly believe that no child should be using an e-cigarette or any other tobacco product. With these new resources, we’ll continue to advance policy steps to address youth use of these products. The FDA will take action to make sure that a new generation of kids does not become addicted to nicotine through e-cigarettes. These new resources will help support these and similar efforts in pursuit of critical public health goals.”