Study of the health impact of vaping points the way to regulation

WASHINGTON – The first long-term study of electronic cigarette use was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine Dec. 16. The results show conclusively that the use of e-cigarettes dramatically increases the risk of lung disease. It also found that dual use of combustible and electronic cigarettes increases risk beyond using either product alone.

Action on Smoking and Health said they believe this information should be used immediately to inform tobacco regulation at the national, state and local levels and that unfettered access to these products is a public health threat.

The study did not conclude whether vaping is as dangerous as smoking combustible cigarettes, nor did it set out to do so. Smoking traditional cigarettes kills nearly half a million Americans each year. E-cigarettes need not be as dangerous to warrant strict regulations or sales bans, according to ASH.

A number of cities and states have already taken decisive action to curtail youth e-cigarette use by banning flavors or overall sales in some places. ASH said they believe that a flavor ban is a reasonable approach, provided it covers all flavors, including mint and menthol. Other studies have shown that the vast majority of youth e-cigarette users use flavored products. ASH also urged the Food and Drug Administration to re-open its efforts to reduce nicotine in all tobacco products to non-addictive levels.

As legislators consider how to address the e-cigarette epidemic, they should take a broad view of tobacco product sales, according to ASH, which said that addressing only e-cigarette sales can lead to inconsistent public health policy, such as eliminating menthol e-cigarettes but leaving menthol cigarettes – which have killed millions - on the shelf.

The most comprehensive and defensible approach, according to ASH, is to phase out the sale of all commercial tobacco products, as Beverly Hills has done. Society has banned the sale of other products for health and safety reasons – for example, asbestos, lead paint and automatic weapons. Products that are highly addictive and deadly when used as intended have no place on the market, the advocacy group said.

Submitted by Action on Smoking and Health.