Genetic evidence that e-cigarettes increase cancer (and other disease) risk among young adults

E-cigarette advocates — as well as regulators like the FDA — are fond of pointing out that nicotine is not a carcinogen (chemical that causes cancer) and noting that because they do not involve combustion, e-cigarettes do not deliver many carcinogenic chemicals produced by burning cigarettes. A new paper by Stella Tommasi , Ahmad BesaratiniaContinue reading “Genetic evidence that e-cigarettes increase cancer (and other disease) risk among young adults”

Criticism of our meta-analysis of e-cigarettes and disease and our response is published

NEJM Evidence has published two letters to the editor that raised questions about our meta-analysis, Population-Based Disease Odds for E-Cigarettes and Dual Use versus Cigarettes that concluded that for cardiovascular disease, stroke and metabolic disorder e-cigarette risks are similar to cigarettes and for respiratory and oral disease, while lower risk than cigarettes, the risks areContinue reading “Criticism of our meta-analysis of e-cigarettes and disease and our response is published”

DOJ’s proposed transfer of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III will facilitate research on cardiovascular impacts of cannabis use

My UCSF colleagues and I just submitted this public comment supporting moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III (PDF copy). The Regulations.gov tracking number is lyx-h4jq-93z8. The Department of Justice’s proposed transfer of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act will facilitate research on the cardiovascular impacts of cannabisContinue reading “DOJ’s proposed transfer of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III will facilitate research on cardiovascular impacts of cannabis use”

New meta-analysis of e-cigs and cardiovascular disease shows increased risks

Chen Chen and colleagues recently published Assessing the association between e-cigarette use and cardiovascular disease: A meta-analysis of exclusive and dual use with combustible cigarettes that found significantly elevated cardiovascular disease risk in dual users (people who use both e-cigarettes and cigarettes) and former smokers who had switched to e-cigarettes compared to people who hadContinue reading “New meta-analysis of e-cigs and cardiovascular disease shows increased risks”

FDA did the right thing when it withdrew its 2022 Juul marketing denial order; it should finish the job quickly by prohibiting Juul on solid grounds

On June 6, 2024, two years after the FDA issued, then suspended its Marketing Denial Order for Juul e-cigarettes based on narrow toxicology issues, FDA formally withdrew the MDO. This does not mean that the FDA has authorized Juul for sale in the US, it just lets FDA start over in its assessment of whetherContinue reading “FDA did the right thing when it withdrew its 2022 Juul marketing denial order; it should finish the job quickly by prohibiting Juul on solid grounds”

Recording of ProfGlantz June 4 presentation “Are ecigs safer than regular cigs?” is now available

On June 4, 2004, I gave a presentation to the Clean Air Coalition of British Columbia, which includes the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society, entitled “Are E-Cigarettes Safer than Regular Cigarettes?” Several people asked if I a recording was available. It is.    The link is https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/rz8sgGt3JyCFS-wWHJJE94ynyXkVsqNOjKUnxnrHsKJbhcTo-_MQDQUxf_Kl0PYf.E35DQkP5nljY9V95 Passcode: ?FCk!$3& An open accessContinue reading “Recording of ProfGlantz June 4 presentation “Are ecigs safer than regular cigs?” is now available”

Glantz and Duffy appear on The Newsmakers to discuss England’s misguided approach to ecigs

Last week Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, appeared in an English language episode of Turkish Radio and Television Corporation‘s “The Newsmakers” to discuss England’s approach to e-cigarettes. They also has the director of the tobacco industry front group Consumer Choice Center. Sheila was quite strong in pointing out that Scotland, Wales and IrelandContinue reading “Glantz and Duffy appear on The Newsmakers to discuss England’s misguided approach to ecigs”

JHU Public Health on Call podcast on study comparing e-cig and cig disease risks

The Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health “Public Health on Call” podcast did an episode on our paper comparing the risks of e-cigarettes and cigarettes. You can listen to it here.

Why does the Royal College of Physicians report on ecigs and harm reduction minimize knowledge of the adverse effects of nicotine beyond addiction?

E-cigarettes and Harm Reduction: An Evidence Review, the latest in a series of reports it has published since 2007 endorsing e-cigarettes for harm reduction.  In this report, the RCP minimizes the adverse health effects of nicotine (beyond addiction), concluding that “There is little evidence of a long-term harmful physiological effect of nicotine that is notContinue reading “Why does the Royal College of Physicians report on ecigs and harm reduction minimize knowledge of the adverse effects of nicotine beyond addiction?”

Why is the Royal College of Physicians concluding e-cigs reduce harm while ignoring the substantial associations between e-cigs and actual disease?

On April 18, 2024 the UK Royal College of Physicians published E-cigarettes and Harm Reduction: An Evidence Review, the latest in a series of reports it has published since 2007 endorsing e-cigarettes for harm reduction.  The report covers a wide range of topics, including assessing the health risks of e-cigarettes, the central question on whetherContinue reading “Why is the Royal College of Physicians concluding e-cigs reduce harm while ignoring the substantial associations between e-cigs and actual disease?”