There's no honeymoon period for the FDA's new tobacco chief, Brian King, a public health scientist who now oversees America's multibillion-dollar cigarette and vaping industries.

Brian King, Director, FDA Center for Tobacco Products

The problems facing the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products have only multiplied since King arrived from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in July.

The FDA missed a summer deadline to review nearly a million applications for e-cigarettes and other new products that use lab-made nicotine, some of which have become popular with teens. Meanwhile, the agency is still a year behind on reviewing a backlog of hundreds of thousands of old e-cigarettes that use nicotine from traditional tobacco.

Earlier this summer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration tried to ban products from leading e-cigarette maker Juul, but it was forced to shelve that effort after the company filed a court challenge.

Members of Congress slammed the FDA for failing to remove Juul and other e-cigarettes with a history of underage use. Amid these criticisms, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf has ordered an external review of the Tobacco Center.

Meanwhile, King and his staff are finalizing a long-awaited plan to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, which disproportionately affect black smokers and young adults.

The Associated Press spoke with King about his approach to regulating tobacco and nicotine, including the potential of e-cigarettes as a less harmful alternative for adult smokers. Notably, he cited the so-called nicotine salt technology pioneered by Juul as a potentially promising tool for smokers, but also warned about its risks to young people.

Q: The FDA is working on proposals that will fundamentally change the tobacco landscape in the United States, including bans on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. When will these be ready and how will they impact public health?

A: I don't know how long things will take, but I think we're laying the groundwork for a dramatic reduction in combustible tobacco smoking, with product standards in the queue, between the proposed rules for menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars.

At the same time, we have a rapidly diversifying product landscape. Especially among young people, I'm still very concerned about the use of emerging products, including e-cigarettes. And for young people, there is no saving grace from the use of tobacco products.

Q: Surveys show that many adults believe e-cigarettes are just as dangerous as traditional cigarettes. Is that the problem?

A: I am fully aware of the misconceptions that exist that are inconsistent with known science. We do know that e-cigarettes - as a general category - are significantly less risky than combustible cigarette products. That said, I think it's very important that we use science and evidence to inform any advocacy campaign. It has to be thought out very carefully to ensure we maximize our impact and avoid unintended consequences.

Q: What are your thoughts on the potential of e-cigarettes to help reduce smoking in adults?

A: I think a lot of very important science and innovation has happened in this industry in recent years. I think the most notable ones are nicotine salts (in e-cigarettes).

We know that when you smoke tobacco products, it's a very effective way of delivering nicotine across the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, it is difficult to match this efficiency in another product. But in the case of nicotine salts, you have the potential to deliver nicotine more efficiently, which could provide the smoker with enough nicotine to make a full transition, with some public health promise. But you also have to consider the other side of the coin, which is the inherent risk of initiation among young people. So I am worried.

So there's a lot going on and I think it could be a promise or a danger. But I think it's important that science drives this.

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