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E-cigs pollute the air.2,3
- E-cigs give off tiny particles that can lodge in the lungs and cause disease.2
- E-cig particles can reach concentrations almost as high as in Lexington before the smoke-free law.2
- Visible aerosol from e-smoking contains harmful chemicals known to cause cancer.4
- Workers and patrons are exposed to secondhand aerosol from e-cigarettes used inside.
E-cigs give off aerosol, not water vapor, including:
- Propylene glycol (lung and eye irritant)5
- Formaldehyde 2,5 and β-nicotyrine (cause cancer)6
- Metal & silicate particles (toxic to human cells)3
- Nicotine (addictive and harmful to unborn babies)5,6
E-cigs undermine smoke-free laws by making enforcement confusing.7,8
- Customers may not patronize the business, thinking regular smoking is allowed.
- Employees may not know who is violating the law.
No current regulations on manufacture = no consumer protection.9
- No way to know what users are breathing in or putting into the air for others to breathe.
- No protection from dangerous design flaws.
Early research shows lung effects similar to smoking.
- Five minutes of e-cigarette use has lung effects similar to tobacco smoke.10
- Airways become inflamed after using e-cigarettes containing nicotine.2
- Flouris AD, Oikonomou DN. Electronic cigarettes: miracle or menace? BMJ. 2010;340:c311.
- Schober W, Szendrei K, Matzen W, et al. Use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) impairs indoor air quality and increases FeNO levels of e-cigarette consumers. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 2013.
- Williams M, Villarreal A, Bozhilov K, Lin S, Talbot P. Metal and silicate particles including nanoparticles are present in electronic cigarette cartomizer fluid and aerosol. PloS one. 2013;8(3):e57987.
- Offermann F. The Hazards of E-Cigarettes. ASHRAE JOURNAL. 2014;56(6):38-44.
- Laugesen M. Safety Report on the Ruyan® e-cigarette Cartridge and Inhaled Aerosol. Christchurch: Health New Zealand Ltd.; October 30, 2008.
- Westenberger BJ. Evaluation of e-cigarettes. St. Louis, MO: Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis; May 4 2009, May 4.
- World Health Organization. Regulatory scope. Tobacco product regulation. Electronic nicotine delivery systems. Drug Information. 2010;24(1):30-32.
- World Health Organization. Electronic nicotine delivery systems. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; July 21 2014.
- Trtchounian A, Talbot P. Electronic nicotine delivery systems: is there a need for regulation? Tob Control. 2011;20(1):47-52.
- Vardavas CI, Anagnostopoulos N, Kougias M, Evangelopoulou V, Connolly GN, Behrakis PK. Acute pulmonary effects of using an e-cigarette: impact on respiratory flow resistance, impedance and exhaled nitric oxide. Chest. Dec 22 2011.