FDA Would Like Public Opinion On E-Cigarettes

The exponential rise in e-cigarette use has government agencies taking a closer look at the devices, and it is expected that it will only be a matter of time before restrictions go into place. In the mean time, there are growing concerns about the highly concentrated nicotine e-juices, which ‘vapers’ use to fill their e-cigarettes. Exposure to e-juices has led to a surge in calls and visits to poison control centers and emergency rooms, Reuters reports.

While e-juices are intended for adults and carry disclaimer warnings about dermal contact and ingestion, as more people use the devices there is a increased likelihood that a child may get their hands on the liquid nicotine. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering a mandate for child-resistant packaging, and warning the public about the dangers of nicotine exposure, according to the article.

The journal Clinical Toxicology lists the symptoms of nicotine poisoning, some of which include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Hypertension
• Ataxia
• Seizures

The FDA posted a 15-page "notice of proposed rulemaking" on its website, giving the public 60 days to give their two cents on e-cigarettes and e-juices with regard to warnings and packaging regulation. The agency is requesting "comments, data, research results or other information that may inform regulatory actions FDA might take."

"The continuing rise in popularity of electronic nicotine devices (ENDS), such as e-cigarettes, which often use liquid nicotine and nicotine-containing e-liquids, has coincided with an increase in calls to poison control centers and visits to emergency rooms related to liquid nicotine poisoning and other nicotine exposure risks," the FDA said in the notice.

The Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) will begin accepting comments today, July 1, 2015.