Republican Lawmakers Want to Dump E-Cig Rules, Despite Health Risks to Teens
- Last Updated: August 10th, 2023
Attorney Jessie Paluch, founder of TruLaw, has over 25 years of experience as a personal injury and mass tort attorney, and previously worked as an international tax attorney at Deloitte. Jessie collaborates with attorneys nationwide — enabling her to share reliable, up-to-date legal information with our readers.
Legally Reviewed
This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by the team of writers and legal experts at TruLaw and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney. If you would like to learn more about our owner and experienced injury lawyer, Jessie Paluch, you can do so here.
Fact-Checked
TruLaw does everything possible to make sure the information in this article is up to date and accurate. If you need specific legal advice about your case, contact us by using the chat on the bottom of this page. This article should not be taken as advice from an attorney.
Republican Lawmakers Want to Dump E-Cig Rules, Despite Health Risks to Teens
This summer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) FDA issued e-cig rules banning the sale of e-cigarettes to those under age 18 and began to require agency approval of any vaping product made before February 15, 2007.
Anti-tobacco groups have been fighting for these e-cig rules and regulations for years because of concerns about the popularity of e-cigarette’s among the country’s youth, and because the long-term health risks of the devices are not fully understood.
But the e-cigarette industry mounted a massive campaign against the rules during the 2016 election campaign, fighting candidates who backed the regulations and hoping to win a congressional reversal of the rules.
Table of Contents
Letter Calls E-Cig Rules, Not E-Cigarettes, Into Question
Two Republican lawmakers recently sent Vice President-elect Mike Pence a letter encouraging President-elect Trump’s team to kill the FDA’s new rules that regulate the electronic cigarette industry, despite the fact that many e-cigarettes contain flavoring agents made from chemicals like diacetyl, which has been shown to cause bronchiolitis obliterans (popcorn lung), a serious and irreversible lung disease.
In the letter, Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson and California Representative Duncan Hunter wrote that the FDA’s “burdensome” regulations would potentially hurt the public’s health by making it more difficult for consumers to access products that serve as alternatives to traditional smoking.
However, the FDA has never approved e-cigarettes as a method to stop smoking, and there is growing evidence that their use is associated with a number of respiratory problems due to dangerous chemicals present in the fluid or vapor.
Bronchiolitis and bronchitis are similar terms that evoke much confusion.
The difference actually lies in the anatomical area of the lungs that are infected, but the symptoms actually present similarly so it is imperative to continue to see a doctor to be monitored to make sure a proper diagnosis is made.
The “bronchioles” are small and delicate airways that lead directly to the alveoli (where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs) and “bronchi” are the much larger “pipes” that make up the first two to three branches of the lungs immediately after the trachea (windpipe).
A November 2016 study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine concluded that adolescent e-cigarette users had twice the risk of chronic bronchitis symptoms as those who had never used the devices.
The symptoms of chronic bronchitis include:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Chills
- Chest discomfort
- Sinus congestion
These symptoms can become more severe and frequent as chronic bronchitis progresses triggering other severe episodes such as respiratory tract infections and infections elsewhere in the body.
The symptoms of bronchiolitis obliterans, often referred to as “popcorn lung,” develop slowly and subtly, gradually progressing to more disabling symptoms over time.
Some early symptoms present similarly to chronic bronchitis, asthma, and tobacco-related COPD including fever, night sweats, weight loss as well as inflammation of the skin, eyes, nose and/or throat.
Experienced Attorney & Legal SaaS CEO
With over 25 years of legal experience, Jessie is an Illinois lawyer, a CPA, and a mother of three. She spent the first decade of her career working as an international tax attorney at Deloitte.
In 2009, Jessie co-founded her own law firm with her husband – which has scaled to over 30 employees since its conception.
In 2016, Jessie founded TruLaw, which allows her to collaborate with attorneys and legal experts across the United States on a daily basis. This hypervaluable network of experts is what enables her to share reliable legal information with her readers!
Here, at TruLaw, we’re committed to helping victims get the justice they deserve.
Alongside our partner law firms, we have successfully collected over $3 Billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured individuals.
Would you like our help?
At TruLaw, we fiercely combat corporations that endanger individuals’ well-being. If you’ve suffered injuries and believe these well-funded entities should be held accountable, we’re here for you.
With TruLaw, you gain access to successful and seasoned lawyers who maximize your chances of success. Our lawyers invest in you—they do not receive a dime until your lawsuit reaches a successful resolution!
Do you believe you’re entitled to compensation?
Use our Instant Case Evaluator to find out in as little as 60 seconds!
AFFF Lawsuit claims are being filed against manufacturers of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), commonly used in firefighting.
Claims allege that companies such as 3M, DuPont, and Tyco Fire Products failed to adequately warn users about the potential dangers of AFFF exposure — including increased risks of various cancers and diseases.
Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuit claims are being filed against Indivior, the manufacturer of Suboxone, a medication used to treat opioid addiction.
Claims allege that Indivior failed to adequately warn users about the potential dangers of severe tooth decay and dental injuries associated with Suboxone’s sublingual film version.
Social Media Harm Lawsuits are being filed against social media companies for allegedly causing mental health issues in children and teens.
Claims allege that companies like Meta, Google, ByteDance, and Snap designed addictive platforms that led to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues without adequately warning users or parents.
Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuits are being filed against manufacturers of transvaginal mesh products used to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
Claims allege that companies like Ethicon, C.R. Bard, and Boston Scientific failed to adequately warn about potential dangers — including erosion, pain, and infection.
Bair Hugger Warming Blanket Lawsuits involve claims against 3M — alleging their surgical warming blankets caused severe infections and complications (particularly in hip and knee replacement surgeries).
Plaintiffs claim 3M failed to warn about potential risks — despite knowing about increased risk of deep joint infections since 2011.
Baby Formula NEC Lawsuit claims are being filed against manufacturers of cow’s milk-based baby formula products.
Claims allege that companies like Abbott Laboratories (Similac) and Mead Johnson & Company (Enfamil) failed to warn about the increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants.
Here, at TruLaw, we’re committed to helping victims get the justice they deserve.
Alongside our partner law firms, we have successfully collected over $3 Billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured individuals.
Would you like our help?
