Windsor Essex County Health Unit
Vaping : What you should know
You may have seen passing strangers use them on the sidewalk and wondered what they were , or noticed them promoted in television commercials by models and celebrities ; you may have even had them suggested to you as a tool to quit smoking by a friend or family member . The fact is “ vaping ,” which refers to the smoking of electronic ( e- ) cigarettes , is no longer part of an underground culture ; it is well-established in North America and is being promoted as the next big thing for everyone , including smokers who are trying to quit , and those who have never smoked .
Often made of plastic or steel , e-cigarettes may or may not resemble a traditional tobacco cigarette . Many e-cigarette devices produce a glow , often coloured , at the tip of the device when inhaled mimicking the burning embers of a tobacco cigarette . When the user exhales , a cloud of thick white vapour is released . The devices themselves generally consist of a cartridge containing e-liquid or e-juice , as well as a heating element and a battery . They come in a variety of forms such as disposable cig-a-likes , modified vaporizers , e-hookahs , volcanoes , and countless others .
Advocates of e-cigarettes cite similar benefits for quitting smoking to traditional nicotine replacement therapies like the patch or gum ; however to date , there has been no definitive evidence which consistently shows their effectiveness as an aid to quitting smoking . As a result , Health Canada has banned e-cigarettes containing nicotine and prohibited industries from marketing them as aids to quitting . In spite
Ontario ’ s Ministry of Health and Long-term Care has addressed this concern by banning the sale and supply of e-cigarettes to minors ( under the age of 19 ) in the same manner as traditional tobacco cigarettes and additional bans on their use in public spaces are expected in 2016 .
of this , these products remain widely available and come in a variety of kid-friendly flavours with colourful and attractive branding . Ontario ’ s Ministry of Health and Long-term Care has addressed this concern by banning the sale and supply of e-cigarettes to minors ( under the age of 19 ) in the same manner as traditional tobacco cigarettes and additional bans on their use in public spaces are expected in 2016 .
The safety of these products has also been questioned . Generally , e-liquid consists of some combination of vegetable glycerine , propylene glycol , flavouring , water , and occasionally nicotine ( as mentioned above ). There is consensus amongst the research community that these products are likely safer than cigarettes since they contain no tobacco and there is no actual combustion involved in their use , however given the 4000 chemicals and approximately 70 cancer causing agents in tobacco smoke , this is not a claim that necessarily lends itself to the safety of vaping . Early research has also identified a dangerous respiratory condition known as “ popcorn lung ” which results from the inhalation of a chemical found in many e-liquid flavours .
With a lack of proof for the effectiveness of these products in helping people quit smoking , lack of long term health studies , concerns over their safety , and flavourings and branding which target children , there are plenty of reasons to support the consistent and progressive regulation of e-cigarettes . Doing so will protect Ontarians from what could be the next big thing in dangerous health behaviours .
Visit www . wechu . org to find more information about vaping and other health concerns
6 The HUB -June 2016