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)