Researchers at the University of Rochester are hoping to shed light on how e-cigarettes may affect the health of smokers and those around them.
A five-year, federally funded is now underway. And the findings will help guide the FDA's future regulations on non-traditional tobacco-related products.
Lead researcher Tom Mariani says one area of research will look at the how e-cigarettes may impact infants and children.
“I think a new father who is a smoker might choose to switch to electronic cigarettes in an effort to protect himself and his newborn child,” he said. “I think it's rational to believe that might be a safer alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes. But the truth is we just really don't know how much better that is or if it's better at all."
Mariani says some of the flavorings contained in e-cigarettes are already known to be a health hazard. New York has just joined two dozen other states asking the FDA to restrict flavored e-cigarettes because of their appeal to young people.
