The recent consumer fraud class action lawsuit filed against tobacco giant RJ Reynolds Vapor has brought the issue of e-cigarettes into sharp focus.

What Are E-Cigarettes?

The earliest electronic cigarettes were patented in 1963, in the USA, and consisted of a device that replaced burning paper and tobacco with flavored moist heated air. They were not very popular since smoking was still considered a macho thing then. In 2003, a Chinese pharmacist, Hon Lik invented the modern e-cigarette as we know it now. It consists of a battery, heating element and a cartridge containing liquid nicotine and other flavoring agents. Smoking e-cigarettes is known as “vaping” since only vapors are emitted and not smoke.  The essential difference between real cigarettes and the electronic version is that since they don’t emit smoke, they are less harmful. Tobacco and nicotine are addictive but in e-cigarettes, a measured dose is delivered minus the toxic effects of smoke and carcinogens. They are popular among people who are trying to quit smoking, those who love smoking but are wary of the cancer risks and the occasional smoker.

Safer than Normal Cigarettes?

Manufacturers of e-cigarettes claim that their products are safer and less harmful than normal cigarettes. Normal cigarettes deliver not just nicotine and smoke, but also a toxic cocktail that includes nitrosamines, DDT, lead, arsenic, hydrogen cyanide, cadmium, radioactive polonium, methanol and vaporized toxins like carbon monoxide. E-cigarette manufacturers claim that their products are free from most of these lethal elements. But many of them fail to inform their consumers that although they don’t burn tobacco, they may contain small doses of carcinogens (formaldehyde and acetylahyde) and nitrosamines and heavy metals.

Switching to e-cigarettes can certainly make a difference to long-term health of traditional smokers, and the problem of passive smoking is almost nil. However, studies have shown that “vaping” is certainly not harmless as claimed. If you’re a victim of such consumer fraud, contact a personal injury lawyer immediately.

Why is Nicotine Harmful?

Though it’s not carcinogenic, nicotine is addictive and harmful:

• It reaches the brain within 20 seconds and the effects manifest within a minute of inhalation.
• Smoking is an expensive habit.
• It creates behavioral and psychological changes associated with addiction.
• It increases heart rate, blood pressure and respiration.
• Sleep disorders are caused by nicotine addiction.
• Smokers are three times more likely to have heart attacks, respiratory problems and lung cancer.
• Cigarettes also contain tar which gets deposited in the lungs, leading to cancer and respiration problems.
• Smokers are at risk for intra-cerebral strokes. 

E-cigarettes and Consumer Fraud

With growing awareness of consumer rights, any purchaser or user of e-cigarettes requires the services of a personal injury lawyer to safeguard their rights. In most countries, there is no regulation of e-cigarettes by regulatory authorities. Consumers cannot really evaluate how much nicotine and other substances are being delivered in an e-cigarette.  Additionally, attractive flavors like mint, candy, menthol, etc can attract children and youngsters who have never smoked, and thus get them addicted to the nicotine contained in the product. Since they don’t leave behind an odor, parents would never be able to tell that kids have been smoking. The “cool quotient” of smoking remains a star selling point and there is no minimum age regulation for using this product.

A free consultation injury lawyer can help establish that:

• E-cigarette manufacturers fail to mention that their products contain toxic substances
• The product is presented as a healthy alternative to normal smoking.
• The battery-operated product works by converting nicotine and other substances into an aerosol vapor. Aerosols contain formaldehyde and acetylahyde.
• The manufacturers fail to inform the consumer that the product is addictive and contains carcinogenic substances.
• The manufacturers knew of the public misconception about e-cigarettes being a healthier alternative.
• E-cigarettes are a “gateway drug” for new users/children/young people who have never smoked before, since e-cigarettes contain addictive nicotine.
• Marketers target young people/children. 

How We Can Assist

As a consumer your rights are compromised when you purchase/use a product that does not provide the correct information. Hence you need to contact your Barrie personal injury lawyer and get advice on the validity of your claims.  Our experienced personal injury lawyers can provide a genuine assessment of the case and assist you with filing the right documents to the right agencies. If there is an ongoing class-action lawsuit, you may become a part of it too. Find a 24×7 injury lawyer who can strengthen your case with expert witnesses, medical testimony, research, documentary and photographic proof coupled with an in-depth knowledge of consumer rights.

If you, your family or a friend has been injured in an accident, please feel free to speak to one of our injury lawyers for a free consultation about how we are able to assist in making a personal injury claim. We consult in all cities across Ontario with a no win no fee guarantee. Our personal injury lawyers have helped victims secure millions of dollars in personal injury cases. Call us Toll Free On our 24/7 Injury Hotline: 1 – 844 495 7333.