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According to Sen. Schumer, the FDA needs to “smoke out dangerous e-cigs and their mystery chemicals before more New York kids get hooked.”
By Forum Staff
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer on Sunday urged the Food and Drug Administration to reverse a recent decision to delay the regulation of e-cigarettes popular among teens, like new-age products dubbed “Juul.”
Schumer noted that he is referencing how in May 2017, the FDA delayed regulatory compliance deadlines for tobacco and e-cigarette products, which were on track because of a 2016 rule. New York’s senior senator said that this delay, coupled with new information from the State Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Advisory Board showing that 1 in 5 New York high schoolers are using e-cigarettes, have prompted him to send a letter to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D.
“I strongly suggest the FDA reconsider the delay regulations that aim to protect our children from harmful products which appeal to their demographic,” Schumer wrote.
According to Schumer, Juul is a new type of e-cig that comes in a variety of flavors and can be easily concealed by kids in the classroom because it looks identical to a USB flash drive; it can even be charged in school or at home on a laptop. Schumer said that Juul may be even more dangerous than conventional smoking because one “pod” promises the amount of nicotine equal to an entire pack of cigarettes.
“To know that New York kids are much more likely to be using these new-age e-cig devices, like Juul, is not only concerning, but it could be dangerous,” the senator added on Sunday. “Up until now, the FDA was on track to reign in e-cigs and regulate them like any other tobacco product, but this recent delay, coupled with the new numbers showing a rise in the use of gadgets like Juul, which can fool teachers and be brought to school, demands the FDA smoke out dangerous e-cigs and their mystery chemicals before more New York kids get hooked.”
Schumer also cited a 2016 study published in Environmental Science and Technology that found that e-cigarettes contain two new types of carcinogens: propylene oxide and glycidol. The study also suggests that the age of the e-cigarette device and temperature play a role in the amount of chemicals produced. For instance, the analysis tested three types of e-liquids in two different vaporizers. The devices with one heating coil instead of two released higher chemical levels; and the higher the temperature inside the coil, the higher the amount of chemicals produced.
Cigarettes are currently subject to FDA’s tobacco control authority; however, e-cigarettes are not yet regulated by the FDA. According to Schumer, in July, the FDA announced it would delay enforcement of a finalized rule that would allow the agency to exercise its authority to regulate e-cigarettes under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009. Once implemented, the rule would have included an age restriction of 18, and prohibits vending machines sales and free samples. In addition, the rule requires manufacturers to list product ingredients, tobacco products containing nicotine to carry an addicting warning label and new or changed tobacco products be approved by the FDA before going to market. Schumer said that the FDA’s delay means that flavored e-cigarettes can remain on the market until at least 2022.
