Watch CBS News

L.I. City Looks To Add E-Cigarettes To Anti-Smoking Laws Already On The Books

GLEN COVE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - There's a push in one Long Island city to add e-cigarettes to anti-smoking regulations.

As WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs reported, Glen Cove Mayor Reginald Spinello wants his city to add e-cigarettes to its smoking prohibition ordinances already on the books.

L.I. City Looks To Add E-Cigarettes To Anti-Smoking Laws Already On The Books

"There's been lots of reports, negative reports about abuse of e-cigarettes and some of the little cartridges, flavorings and there's some carcinogens in them," said Spinello. "We'd like to keep as much of smoke-free environment as we can and e-cigarettes, we believe, are a part of the smoking problem."

The mayor's comments come on the heels of a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that poisonings from liquid nicotine used in e-cigarettes have increased dramatically over recent months.

"This is certainly a health issue," said Spinello. "It's a problem that continues to grow and we're gonna be at the forefront of this."

Electronic cigarettes use liquid nicotine, which is heating and turned into a vapor.

Advocates have said e-cigs are safer than traditional cigarettes, but others have said there needs to be more research into possible health effects from e-cigarettes.

New York City lawmakers have voted to include e-cigarettes in the city's anti-smoking measures. But that's being challenged by smoking advocates.

You May Also Be Interested In These Stories

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.