A recent article by the Peninsula on the Electronic Cigarette has sparked a row between Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and an Electronic Cigarette Company. It all started when the Peninsula claimed that the electronic cigarette contained 40 times as much nicotine as a regular cigarette.
E Cigarette Direct, who advertise with Qatar Visitor, wrote an open letter of protest to the Peninsula, arguing that, based on available research, the claim was false:
"Even the highest level of nicotine (31.5 micrograms per puff) [found by the FDA commissioned report] is lower than that of regular cigarettes."
ASH wrote a response to what it called a "nasty letter" by E Cigarette Direct, and alleged that the letter could not be trusted because the writer had no medical background.
"We are aware of a so-called "open letter" written to you by the managing director of an e-cigarette company which, especially because it is written by an entity with an obvious financial interest in the topic, and someone who apparently has no scientific or medical training, may not reveal all relevant information."
It then went on to suggest that the research that had been conducted into the electronic cigarette, and which suggests the electronic cigarette is safer than conventional cigarettes, had been compromised.
E Cigarette Direct then went to on to challenge ASH via a press release entitled: E Cigarette Challenge ASH to Respond to Issues.
In the press release as well as a supporting article on the website they alleged ASH had ignored the issues raised by the Peninsula Article: - whether electronic cigarettes do not contain more nicotine than cigarettes, and whether electronic cigarettes are safer than regular cigarettes. They went on to state:
"We believe, quite simply, that ASH did not deal with the issues we raised simply because there is no logical response to be raised. We challenge Ash to deal directly with the points mentioned."ASH has yet to respond to the latest press release, but we will update you here when they do!
Related links: The Smokers Angel
