Context: Underlining the risks associated with vaping or e-cigarettes, the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged governments to categorize them akin to tobacco, advocating for the prohibition of all flavors and immediate interventions.
What are E-cigarettes?
There are numerous sizes and shapes for e-cigarettes. The majority feature a heating element, a battery, and a liquid-holding capacity.
To create an aerosol, e-cigarettes heat a liquid that typically contains nicotine, the addictive substance found in normal cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products, as well as flavourings and additional compounds. Individuals breathe in this aerosol.
There are several names for e-cigarettes like "electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)," "tank systems," "e-cigs," "e-hookahs," "mods," "vape pens," and "vapes."
Vaping is another term for using an electronic cigarette.
What is in e-cigarette aerosol?
The e-cigarette aerosol that users breathe from the device and exhale can contain harmful and potentially harmful substances, including:
- Nicotine
- Ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs
- Flavoring such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease
- Volatile organic compounds
- Cancer-causing chemicals
- Heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead
What are the concerns related to using e-cigarettes?
- Nicotine dependence: The most addictive ingredient in traditional cigarettes, nicotine, is also present in most e-cigarettes. Dependency on nicotine can result in cravings, symptoms of withdrawal, and trouble quitting.
- Affects brain development: Nicotine has a particularly negative effect on memory, learning, and attention in the growing brains of teenagers and young adults.
- Lung damage - EVALI (lung injury related with vaping or e-cigarette use): This dangerous illness may result in scarring, inflammation, or even death. Chest pain, exhaustion, coughing, and shortness of breath are some of the symptoms.
- Long-term lung issues: The aerosol from e-cigarettes contains dangerous substances such diacetyl, which has been connected to the deadly lung condition bronchiolitis obliterans. Additionally, vaping exacerbates pre-existing lung diseases like asthma.
- cardiovascular disease: Since e-cigarettes can harm blood vessels and the heart, they raise the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems.
- Mental health: Nicotine usage has been shown to exacerbate depressive and anxious symptoms.
- Secondhand aerosol exposure: The aerosol from e-cigarettes includes nicotine and other dangerous substances that can hurt onlookers, particularly young children and expectant mothers.
Are e-cigarettes less harmful than regular cigarettes?
- The aerosol from e-cigarettes typically has less harmful compounds than the lethal mixture of 7,000 chemicals found in traditional cigarette smoke. Aerosol from e-cigarettes is not harmless, though. It may include chemicals that cause cancer, heavy metals like lead, nicotine, volatile organic compounds, and other potentially dangerous things.
Regulation of E-cigarettes:
- In India, the possession of e-cigarettes and similar devices is a violation of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarette Act (PECA) 2019, according to the Union Health Ministry.
- All producers, manufacturers, importers, exporters, distributors, advertisers, transporters including couriers, social media websites, online shopping websites, shopkeepers/retailers etc. not to directly or indirectly produce or manufacture or import or export or transport or sell or distribute or store e-cigarettes, whether as a complete product or any part thereof.