A detailed, 32-page report from the California Department of Public Health has officially declared what many already knew: e-cigarettes are not benign, and are a threat to community health.
In an introduction, Dr. Ron Chapman, CDPH Director and State Health Officer writes that "of particular concern to me is the impact of e-cigarettes on the health and safety of children, teens, and young adults. The availability of e-cigarettes in a variety of candy and fruit flavors such as cotton candy, gummy bear, chocolate mint, and grape makes these products highly appealing to young children and teens. The use of marketing terms such as 'e-juice' may further mislead consumers into believing that these products are harmless and safe for consumption."
The report is careful to use the term e-cigarettes over the term vaping presumably to further associate the devices with traditional cigarettes, which are known to be harmful. It also refers to secondhand vapor as "secondhand aerosol." Further, the report refutes claims that of scientific evidence that e-cigarettes aid in traditional cigarette smoking cessation. And last, it decries unrestricted marketing, which currently means that, for example, television ads for e-cigarettes can be seen in California.
Here's the conclusions section of the report:
These devices pose a poisoning hazard, particularly for children, but also for adults who may confuse e-liquid bottles with other products. The nicotine in e-cigarettes has lasting health implications to the brain development of teens and young adults, and there are indications that chemicals in e-liquids may pose a respiratory hazard to users and to those exposed to the aerosol emitted from these devices. Furthermore, there are worker safety and biohazard concerns regarding the conditions under which e-liquids are mixed and how materials are disposed. Increasingly, there are reports from schools and law enforcement agencies about the use of these e-cigarettes for other illicit substances. The adverse health effects of e-cigarettes and their by-products make it clear that these products should be strictly regulated. Restrictions on marketing to youth and access by youth, protections to prevent poisonings—particularly among children—and education of the public on the dangers of e-cigarettes are important measures to take to address this growing public health threat.
Previously: SF Health Department Goes After Vaping With New Campaign
