New Scientist – Scientist’s findings misinterpreted

European Union regulators have been accused by 15 prominent scientists of misinterpreting their results in a bid to bring in unnecessary regulations on electronic cigarettes.

In a letter to the EU's health commissioner Tonio Borg the scientists state that heavy handed regulation will have a negative impact on the existing levels of smoking related health problems, and pointed out that smoking currently kills 700,000 Europeans each year.

The scientists believe that electronic cigarettes have the potential to save millions of lives worldwide if they are more wisely regulated.

The regulations would restrict nicotine levels in the liquid but the scientists feel that the data used is outdated and has been misinterpreted. The feel that such restrictions would cause many to return to tobacco cigarettes.