E- cigarettes are also a pubic health challenge in India

New Delhi / Bhopal: Electronic cigarettes produce nicotine, which is highly addictive and other harmful chemicals which are injurious to health. According to a 2023 study published in the Journal of Preventive Medicine, e-cigarettes are a continuing public health challenge in India despite comprehensive bans. This is because e-cigarettes are available to the young population in India said Dr Naresh Purohit – Advisor , National Tobacco Control Programme .

Voicing his concern on the “Havoc caused by E- cigarettes ” on the occasion of World Lung Cancer Day ,
noted Community Oncologist Dr Purohit told NewsOnRadar that vapes and e-cigarettes are a horrible invention and should’ve never been allowed to market. Not only are they hazardous to health but the non-biodegradable nature of the materials they are made from are nasty for planet earth. Along with cigarette butts, one can see these devices lying around everywhere after vaping.

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, e-cigarettes produce an aerosol by heating a liquid that usually contains nicotine, flavourings such as diacetyl, and other chemicals such as ultrafine particles, volatile organic compounds, cancer-causing chemicals, and heavy metals such as nickel, tin and lead, that help to make the aerosol. The aerosol is then inhaled into the lungs. “he said

“E-cigarettes are also known as “electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS ) ” he added.

“Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive, can harm adolescent and young adult brain development, is toxic to developing foetuses, poses a health danger to pregnant adults and their developing babies, harms the heart and lungs, raises one’s blood pressure, increases adrenaline levels, raises the heart rate, increases the chances of having a heart attack, and is linked to chronic lung disease and asthma.”he averred Renowned Epidemiologist said that according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) around 27% of the Indian population uses tobacco in some form and India’s massive population makes it the largest tobacco market in the world. India is the only country that has completely banned the sale of e-cigarettes.

He emphasised that more health education about harms associated with vaping and more intensive monitoring and enforcement could assist in reducing uptake in relatively high-prevalence groups such as educated young adults.
As smoking cessation tools, e-cigarettes “are not ideal and there are other options that are proven by science that are safe and effective,” he said.

– *Dr Naresh Purohit-MD, DNB, DIM, D. Psych, MHA, MRCP, is an Epidemiologist, Advisor to Govt. of India on National Communicable Diseases Control Program, Madhya Pradesh and several other health organizations.