E-cigarettes

Syllabus
GS Paper 2 – Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
GS Paper 3 – Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

Context
Despite advertising restrictions, 85% of young people, surveyed across four countries, reported being exposed to e-cigarette advertising from at least one type of media.


What are E-cigarettes?

  • E-cigarettes, also known as “e-cigs,” “vapes,” “e-hookahs,” “vape pens,” and “Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS).”
  • Their appearance can resemble traditional cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, while others have a design resembling USB flash drives, pens, and various ordinary objects.
  • The act of using an e-cigarette is commonly referred to as “vaping.”
  • E-cigarettes have frequently been proposed as a possible method to aid smokers in quitting.

Contents of E-Cigarette Aerosol:

  • Nicotine: A highly addictive substance found in tobacco plants. It’s present in various tobacco products, including cigarettes, non-combusted cigarettes (like “heat-not-burn tobacco” or “heated tobacco products”), cigars, smokeless tobacco, hookah tobacco, and the majority of e-cigarettes.
  • Components in Aerosol: The aerosol from e-cigarettes may contain harmful and potentially harmful substances such as:
    • Ultrafine particles that can deeply penetrate the lungs.
    • Flavoring agents like diacetyl, associated with a severe lung disease.
    • Volatile organic compounds.
    • Cancer-causing chemicals.
    • Heavy metals like nickel, tin, and lead.
  • Nature of Nicotine: Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical compound sourced from tobacco plants.
  • Nicotine Presence: Found in all tobacco products, it causes changes in the brain, resulting in cravings, which can lead to addiction upon using any tobacco product.

Working of E-Cigarettes:

  • Identification and Variants: Known by multiple names like vapes, e-hookahs, electronic cigarettes, and e-pipes, ENDS (Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems) or non-combustible tobacco products come in various forms.
  • Design and Marketing: E-cigarettes are often designed to resemble traditional cigarettes and are advertised as devices for delivering nicotine without the use of tobacco.
  • Operational Mechanism: Unlike conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes are powered by a battery-operated mechanism.
  • Aerosol Generation: They produce aerosol by heating a solution composed of nicotine and various flavors in a liquid form, primarily using solvents like glycerol or propylene glycol.
  • Aerosol Composition: The resulting aerosol includes a mixture of fine particles and gases that mimic the appearance of cigarette smoke.
  • Nicotine Delivery: Upon inhalation, ultrafine particles and nicotine are carried deep into the lungs, then absorbed into the bloodstream.

Harmful effects:

  • Youth, Young Adults, and Non-Tobacco Users: E-cigarettes are not recommended for these groups due to potential health risks.
  • Adolescent Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s 2016 conclusion emphasized the adverse impact of nicotine exposure during adolescence, leading to addiction and potential harm to the developing adolescent brain.
  • Heart Health Risk: A recent study associated daily e-cigarette use with a 79% increase in heart attack risk after considering various contributing factors.
  • Chemical Exposure Concerns: According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), e-cigarettes may release potential carcinogens such as acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, and acetone depending on the battery output voltage used.
    • The vaporizing solutions also contain toxic chemicals and metals leading to various adverse health effects, including heart, lung, and brain diseases.
  • Safety Hazards: Defective e-cigarette batteries have led to fires and explosions causing severe injuries, often occurring during the charging process.

E-Cigarette Regulations in Different Countries:

  • United States: The US, with the highest population of vape users, intends to ban all e-cigarette flavors except for tobacco.
  • United Kingdom: In 2016, the UK implemented regulations governing e-cigarette firms, allowing legal sales of ENDS products like vapes while controlling the use of illicit vaping fluids.
  • China: China, home to a third of the world’s smokers, has plans to enhance supervision and regulations surrounding vaping products.
  • Japan: Japan regulates e-cigarettes containing nicotine as medicinal products under its pharmaceutical affairs law. Non-nicotine e-cigarettes are not subject to regulation.

Steps Taken by the Indian Government in Tobacco Control:

  • Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019: This restricts various aspects associated with e-cigarettes, including production, sale, transport, and advertising.
  • Combating E-Cigarette Menace: Introducing statutes for prohibition of electronic cigarettes and regulating the display and use of tobacco products in media.
  • Cigarettes Act, 1975: Enforces the display of health warnings in advertisements and on tobacco product packaging.
  • Delhi Prohibition of Smoking Act: Originally passed in the Delhi assembly and later adopted as a model for Central Legislation, banning smoking in public places as directed by the Supreme Court in 2002.
  • Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003: Comprehensive legislation ensuring smoke-free public areas and placing constraints on tobacco advertising and commerce.
  • Tobacco Quitline Services: Initiated in 2016 and expanded in 2018, providing toll-free quitline services available in multiple languages and local dialects.
  • National Health Policy 2017: Aims to reduce tobacco use by 30% by 2025, aligning with targets for non-communicable disease control.
  • Ratification of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)
  • National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP): Launched in 2007-08 in specific districts and now implemented across the nation. Objectives include creating awareness about tobacco’s harmful effects and enforcing tobacco control laws.
  • Measures under NTCP: Implementation of large warnings on 85% of tobacco packaging and introduction of a dedicated helpline aiding tobacco cessation.

Way forward:

  • Misconceptions and Safety Concerns: While some believe e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes, the absence of safety does not imply e-cigarettes are entirely safe. Research is ongoing to comprehend their efficacy for smoking cessation and their long-term health impacts.
  • Educational Institutions and Tobacco Awareness: Schools can play a role in educating about the risks of nicotine and tobacco use by offering information resources and maintaining tobacco-free campuses.
  • Youth Engagement and Education: Youth organizations have the opportunity to host local events to inform and involve young individuals, emphasizing the various harms of tobacco use, including its impact on personal finances.
  • Media Responsibility: Film, television, and drama production companies can take a stand by refraining from depicting tobacco or e-cigarette use, contributing to the reduction of their glamorization.
  • Public Figures’ Accountability: Celebrities and social influencers have a role in declining offers from nicotine and tobacco industries, rejecting the role of “brand ambassadors” or sponsorships from these sectors.

Source: The Hindu


Practice Question

What are E-cigarettes, their potential health risks, and how do they differ from traditional cigarettes? Examine the significance of the recent Indian government’s prohibition on e-cigarettes, elaborating on the related apprehensions and implications. (Answer in 250 words)

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