E-Smoke on Planes, Allergy-Busting Bacteria & Labor Day Recipes

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written by Tanya Racoobian Walton and Sharon Harvey Rosenberg

As more stores stock up on eCigarettes, controversy continues to ignite.

Earlier this week, the American Heart Association issued its first policy statement about electronic cigarettes and the need for strong regulation to prevent nicotine addiction among young people.

Meanwhile, U.S. News & World Report provided details about a dramatic 300 percent increase in the number young non-smokers who have tried eCigarettes from 2011 through 2013, based on the data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

At the same time, NPR reported on the World Health Organization’s recommendation to ban the use of eCigarettes indoors because the product may emit toxic chemicals harmful to bystanders.

And the Massachusetts Port Authority recently sparked debate about the safety of eCigarettes on airplanes based on reports that a cigarette battery began burning in a passenger’s baggage before a flight’s takeoff, according to the New York Times.

Baptist Health hospitals, facilities and outpatient centers follow tobacco-free policies on their premises and have added electronic cigarettes to those policies. Our medical experts weigh in on the health effects in this post: Are eCigarettes a Safer Smoking Alternative?

Gut Check: Allergy-Blocking Bacteria?

An important group of bacteria — called Clostridia — is a natural part of the digestive system and could play a major role in blocking peanut allergies, according to a study conducted on mice by a team of University of Chicago researchers.

“They hope to harness the bacteria in a pill form – or replicate their effects with a drug – in order to treat allergies,” according to a BBC news report.

The topic of food allergies has been covered by this blog: Food Allergies: A Growing Concern