For several thousand years, giant billowing pillows of vapour were associated with angels, harps, a general sense of tranquility. Then, electronic cigarettes happened.
Still, for the almost competitive sub-culture vaping spawned (and the inevitable piss-taking reactions to it, as seen above), proponents have always been to fall back on the fact electronic cigarettes are a significantly safer alternative to good ol’ tobacco.
Welp, some of those claims have now landed a couple of local firms in trouble with the ACCC. Queensland-based Social-Lites and Kiwi firm Elusion have been called out by the consumer watchdog over claims their products don’t contain any of the carcinogens or toxic chemicals present in regular durries.
The ACCC allege their testing demonstrated the products do contain formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, both of which are found in tobacco cigarettes – and are classified as bona fide carcinogens.
Following those findings, the watchdog are launching a case against each company. Chairman Rod Sims said neither firm “have a reasonable basis for making those claims” of totally toxin-free products.
Social-Lites have defended their position in a Facebook post, claiming “carcinogens are found when heated at very high temperatures to the point of whats commonly known as ‘Dry Hits’.”
“All vapers know dry hitting is disgusting and nobody in their right mind would vape when dry hitting!”
In the same post, they clarify the ACCC’s action relates to a promotional video for one of their “starter” kits.
It goes on to state “its only when people use vaporisers with high voltage capabilities do carcinogens form,” and Social-Lites “will tell people its a smarter choice rather than stating its healthier one.”
In a statement, Sims said “it is imperative that suppliers have scientific evidence to support claims that their products do not contains carcinogens and toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.”
“This is particularly important when, as here, products are designed to be inhaled and are being differentiated from conventional tobacco cigarettes because they are claimed not to contain toxic chemicals.”
