‘Quit, Don’t Switch’

The European Respiratory Society (ERS) said continued exposure to toxins in e-cigarettes is a “bad alternative to quitting smoking,” even if the toxins in vapor are at lower levels than those in tobacco smoke.

In an editorial, published in the European Respiratory Journal, the ERS’s Tobacco Control Committee argued current health policies that support vaping are based on “incorrect claims or assumptions.” It also warned nicotine-containing e-cigarettes are being used by nonsmokers at an “alarming” rate.

The ERS authors argued that smokers can quit with will power alone and that tobacco use can be reduced with existing measures such as plain packaging and anti-smoking campaigns. They pointed out the while e-cigarette may be less harmful than smoking, they are not harmless.

In related news, the American Lung Association urged smokers to quit their habit rather than switch to vaping.

“E-cigarettes have not been found to be safe and effective in helping smokers quit,” said Albert A. Rizzo, chief medical officer of the American Lung Association. “They were designed to appeal to people who wanted to use something beside a cigarette, or in addition to a cigarette.

“Instead of helping smokers quit, e-cigarettes have rapidly created another generation addicted to tobacco products by marketing products that appeal to kids, including flavored products like gummy bear, unicorn blood and bubble gum—even apple juice,” he added.

In November, cardiologists warned countries should consider banning vaping as they published research suggesting it could damage the brain, heart, blood vessels and lungs.

The intervention comes alongside a case study, also published in the European Respiratory Journal, which claims that a rare form of scarring in the lungs of a 49-year-old woman was likely caused by vaping.

The researchers found cobalt and other toxic metals in the vapor produced by the device, which they believe comes from the heating coils inside.

Source: The Daily Mail, American Lung Association