Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon’s Department of Justice has stopped two chain stores from selling electronic cigarettes.

Those are plastic devices that contain a heating element and a cartridge of liquid nicotine.

When they’re switched on, they produce a nicotine vapor.  They can be used in restaurants and while traveling -- because they don’t technically smoke.

Oregon is the first state in the nation to stop the sales.

Ben Unger, a spokesman for the Attorney General, says it’s the state’s job to protect people.

Ben Unger: “I do think that it’s the burden of the company to prove scientifically that the things that they’re selling to people are safe.”

Environmentalists have long called for the so-called precautionary principle. They say products like DDT would never have made it to market if manufacturers had to prove they were safe.

Detractors say many safe products, also wouldn’t have made it to market -- because testing is so expensive.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration found carcinogens in one e-cigarette and issued a warning.

Other stores in Oregon will still be allowed to sell the product.