Note: World Lung Foundation united with The Union North America. From January 2016, the combined organization is known as “Vital Strategies.”
(New York, USA) –– Today, at a meeting of the New York City Council Health Committee, World Lung Foundation (WLF) will call for e-cigarettes to be regulated under New York’s Smoke-free Air Act. WLF will make the case for regulation in testimony at a Health Committee public hearing.
What we don’t know could harm
Dr Neil Schluger, Chief Scientific Officer, World Lung Foundation, who will address the Committee today, commented: “One of the biggest public health benefits of the NYC Smoke-free Air Act is that it de-normalizes smoking in public, which has contributed to an overall reduction in smoking, especially among youth, and a longer life-span for the average New Yorker. E-Cigarettes glamorize smoking behavior and therefore threaten to undermine the tremendous progress that has been made.
“There is a great deal we do not know about e-cigarettes and their potential harm. Scientific testing indicates that e-cigarettes vary widely in the amount and quality of nicotine they deliver. Currently, there are also no standards for product manufacturing, nor are there restrictions on the other chemicals that might be included in the device. In short, consumers have no idea what they are really ingesting.
“E-cigarette companies are in essence selling nicotine addiction. Nicotine itself can have powerful negative effects on the cardiovascular system, including high blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms. In women, nicotine reduces circulating estrogen levels and has been linked to early menopause. Prenatal exposure has been linked in epidemiological studies to obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure in children. In addition, we cannot exclude the risk of adverse health effects generated by second-hand exposure to e-cigarettes. There has been little research on the emission of fine and ultrafine inhalable liquid particles, nicotine and cancer-causing substances into indoor air.”
No proof of cessation claims
A study in the American Journal of Public Health showed that those who incorporated e-cigarettes into a quit-smoking attempt were less likely to succeed after six months. In fact, unrestricted e-cigarettes on the market may end up preventing persons from seeking proven methods of quitting – including cold turkey.
Dr. Schluger concluded: “Some argue that e-cigarettes can be a useful alternative to smoking but there is little evidence that is true. A CDC report also revealed a very concerning increased uptake of e-cigarettes among middle and high school students, which raises a warning flag. The marketing campaigns, slick product design and fruity flavors may be driving young people and luring non-smokers into a lifetime of nicotine addiction. Our strong recommendation to the New York City Council is to continue its established leadership in public health by including e-cigarettes in its current smoke-free legislation. That will be good for everyone in New York who has come to enjoy the health benefits of an environment that discourages smoking.”
More youth are using e-cigarettes in the US
E-cigarette use has quickly grown from a niche, novelty product to a billion dollar global industry. Roughly 20% of smokers have tried e-cigarettes, and 6% of all Americans have used them at least once, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Another recent study by CDC showed that e-cigarette experimentation and recent use doubled among U.S. middle and high school students during 2011–2012, resulting in an estimated 1.78 million students having ever used e-cigarettes as of 2012.
Dr. Schluger’s testimony is available at here.