Buyer beware: e-cigarettes are not without harm
While less and less people are lighting up these days, there are more trying alternative tobacco delivery systems like the increasingly popular electronic or e-cigarette.
The e-cigarette is being sold as a “healthier” alternative to traditional cigarettes, but the new technology isn’t as risk-free as advertised.
“Given that e-cigarettes are a relatively new product, there’s limited evidence about their potential for harm from long term use and exposure. However, there are plenty of warning signs from their unregulated use that has spurred us into action,” says Dr. Meena Dawar, medical health officer at VCH. “VCH believes that use of e-cigarettes poses risks, even though it may be lower than those associated with traditional tobacco use, and so we believe they should be regulated under the same framework as tobacco.”
Low levels of toxins
E-cigarette vapour contains low levels of carcinogenic nitrosamines, heavy metals and propylene glycol (a respiratory irritant). Because the products aren’t regulated, consumers cannot be assured of their level of exposure to these compounds. The sale and use of e-cigarettes containing nicotine are not approved by Health Canada; however these are widely available on the internet and can be purchased in some Lower Mainland shops. More concerning, e-cigarette use among youth has been increasing and experts believe that this can be a gateway to smoking.
“While there is limited trial evidence to show that smokers can use e-cigarettes to quit or cut down on tobacco use,” explains Dr. Dawar, “we recommend the much safer alternatives, like patches, gum, nicotine inhalers and cessation medication, that are supported by a wealth of evidence.”
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Banned on VCH grounds
Because vapour from e-cigarettes can contain harmful chemicals, albeit at low levels, VCH has banned the use of e-cigarettes on all of its grounds under their Smoke-Free Premises Policy.
“We believe using e-cigarettes in public spaces can normalize smoking behaviour for children and youth,” Dr. Dawar says. “Their public use also sends a mixed message – they provide visual cues about smoking which may lead to increased tobacco use over time and may undermine quit attempts and promote relapse.”
“We know that e-cigarettes use isn’t risk-free,” she continues. “And we believe they should be regulated under the same framework, the same laws as tobacco so that advertising, promotion and sales to youth and use in public spaces are regulated.”
Related Links
Read Dr. Patricia Daly’s recent blog post on the risks of e-cigarettes.
AJ
I am really glad to see this, as I have worked nights where staff have felt it appropriate to sit in the nursing station smoking their e-cigs because “it’s not a real cigarette”. I found the odour and the appearance to be offensive, and could only imagine how that looked to patients & families. I also know that odourless cartridges containing controlled substances are becoming available at a street level, and this raises concerns as well. How can we know what is in the vapours from those cartridges? We could be breathing second-hand anything, and have no idea.
With regard to people’s analogies to harm reduction: Health authorities definitely promote harm reduction in programs and environments where it is appropriate. That does not mean they allow patients (or staff) to use in lobbies, hallways, entries, or staff rooms. Why should this be any different? Nobody is treating you as a pariah, we just don’t want to share your habit. Take it outside.
Susan
VCH has already normalized injectable drugs and they’re afraid about e-cigarettes??? Weird. Anyways everytime you mention e cigarettes my e-cigarette business gets busier, so maybe inadvertantly its VCH who is normalizing them by talking about them non stop….2 articles in a week
Barbara Bawlf
I do not agree that nicotine patches and gum are safer than e-cigarettes. They still contain nicotine which is addictive so I think it is a mistake to make this statement and I think it hypocritical that harm reduction for heroin and crack cocaine are tolerated but smokers are villified by the system and treated as pariahs by society.