Research Pitfalls
Doctor Farsalinos offered the Global Forum for Nicotine his opinions on where researchers are failing to deliver good science.
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by Dave Cross
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The main theme for 2015 was ‘a different kind of endgame’ – how lower risk nicotine delivery products might bring about major reductions in smoking. As part of this conference, Doctor Farsalinos gave a presentation looking at the key failings of the research used against the adoption of vaping as a method of harm reduction.
Farsalinos pointed out that the electronic cigarette phenomenon has been both instigated and driven by consumers/end users. It highlights how this is not a market created by tobacco or pharmaceutical companies looking to create new profit centres but desire making technology naturally evolve from a concept.
The first flaw he highlights is that many scientists who are experienced in carrying out tobacco research believe they are competent to complete research into electronic cigarettes. This is an error, he claims, as ecigs are much more complicated due to the fact that they involve a combination of electronics, liquid chemistry and (as every vaper knows) come with a range of functions, characteristics and different requirements for use.
An example highlighted here included the injecting of mice with nicotine-containing liquids. This is not something even remotely parallel to the use of eliquids in vaping and therefore any result from this experiment is wholly irrelevant to, well, anything other than ‘What happens when we inject mice with nicotine-containing liquids?’
He highlighted similar investigations bearing no relation to the use of mods and atomisers such as Kim & Shin’s chromatographic investigation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines. Also in his sights were the collection of studies that have found all manner of toxic substances by dry burning coils – something he has written about many times recently.
Next, he rounded on the discovery of heavy metal presence in vapour. This, he explained, was to be expected “due to the metallic structure of atomizers, coils.” He pointed out that researchers frequently forget to compare their findings (if obtained under realistic conditions) with the metallic content of drinking water, food and traditional NRT products. Not only this, but they also forget that it is “the amount of a compound that defines its toxicity” and not mere presence.
Frequently, these ill-equipped researchers go on to make false assumptions when extrapolating their data. An example of this being the American Association of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning who have been deemed suitably qualified to now include electronic cigarettes within their remit! They assumed that 100% of all inhaled vapour would be absorbed by the body – an assumption that even a non-specialist would immediately see as foolish and thereby nullify any further conclusions.
Farsalinos castigated the use of animals and cell culture studies for frequently producing totally irrelevant information and forcing conclusions where none can be made. Not only is the methodology not relevant but also he bemoaned the increasing reliance on such approaches by ignorant scientists.
And then he recalled the ‘lipoid pneumonia scare’ instigated by an attending physician who appeared to not recall simple biology facts from his schooldays. Generously, he stated that these studies and statements holding a high fear-factor are released because the institutions behind them know there will be publicity. Many vapers will contend there are more nefarious motives afoot.
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous vape companies to develop content for their websites.
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