Kelsey Briggs
Nov. 16, 2018
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Electronic cigarette usage is on the rise and so are growing health concerns. Individuals who use the e-cigs are aware of the flavors they may choose from but are they aware of the chemicals. A hot topic that has recently caught the attention of regulators in the Food and Drug Administration.
OU-505 is set to remove “harmful” chemicals from e-cigarette products without taking away the essence of nicotine. Ingredients such as propylene glycol, benzoic acid, diacetyl and heavy metals including nickel, tin, and lead are found within the product. Authors Thomas Larkin and Robert Dorrell, of the University of Oklahoma set out on mission to end the production of controversial ingredients in e-cigs. This link listed below gives more information on specific chemicals.http://www.gaspforair.org/gasp/gedc/pdf/E-CigSmoke.pdf
“I don’t want e-cigs to go away, I want people to have access to them if they choose to partake in them. E-Cigs are good alternates to smoking and if we have the ability to make them healthier then we should do so,” said Robert Dorrell, House of Representatives member and co-author of the bill.
Figure 1: Authors of the bill, Robert Dorrell (right) and Thomas Larkin (left) working on OU-505.
Both the proponent and opponent sides argued the bill. Proponents of the bill argued that the approval of this bill willallow people to know what is in the juice for e-cigs, it will help end the “vape nation” movement amongst the millennial population and promote safer smoking standards. The opponents of bill argued the chemicals found in the juice is non-toxic especially in small doses, e-cigs were also designed to help heaver smokers lessen the addiction and not have to quit “cold turkey” and the ingredients in the vapor juice aid in the process of producing vapor from the juice through a series of chemicals and coils.
OU-505 passed with a house majority vote in favor of producing healthier smoking standards in the state of Oklahoma. The bill will move to get voted on in the Senate. Delegates are set to meet again for session the morning of Nov. 17 to amend and pass more bills for the legislation. For more information on the bill, visit https://www.fda.gov/tobaccoproducts/labeling/productsingredientscomponents/ucm456610.htm or visit the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature Facebook page.