Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Electronic cigarettes, according to WHO, do not contribute to quitting tobacco use and are themselves dangerous to health.

Restrictive measures against e-cigarettes are urgently needed to protect children and non-smokers and reduce the harmful effects on public health. This was stated by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Electronic cigarettes, according to WHO, do not contribute to the cessation of tobacco use and are themselves dangerous to health. Meanwhile, these products are sold without restrictions in many countries and are widely advertised among young people.

The ban applies only in 34 countries

Currently, the sale of e-cigarettes is banned in only 34 countries, 88 countries do not set a minimum age for their sale, and 74 countries have no regulatory restrictions on such harmful products at all.

“Children are introduced to the harmful habit of vaping from an early age, putting them at risk of becoming addicted to nicotine,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “I urge countries to take strong action to prevent the spread of e-cigarettes to protect their citizens, especially children and young people.”

Harm to health

Electronic cigarettes with nicotine are highly addictive and harmful to health. Their long-term health effects are not fully understood, but it has been established that they release toxic substances, including those that cause cancer and increase the risk of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases.

In young people, vaping may also have negative effects on brain development and lead to learning disabilities. In pregnant women, e-cigarettes may adversely affect the development of the fetus. In addition, contact with substances emitted by electronic cigarettes is dangerous for others.

“E-cigarettes come in more than 16,000 flavors and are being promoted to children through social media and influencers. In some cases, the promotion of such products uses images of cartoon characters and elegant designs to attract the younger generation. E-cigarette use among children and young people is increasing at an alarming rate, in some countries faster than among adults,” said Dr Rüdiger Krech, Director of the WHO Department of Health Promotion.

Children under attack

Across all WHO regions, e-cigarettes are more popular among children aged 13–15 years than among adults. Thus, in Canada, from 2017 to 2022, the number of e-cigarette smokers among people aged 16–19 years doubled, and in England (United Kingdom) this figure has tripled over the past three years.

Even a brief exposure to content promoting e-cigarettes can increase propensity to use such products, as well as create more positive attitudes toward e-cigarettes. Research data consistently shows that young e-cigarette smokers are almost three times more likely to use regular cigarettes later in life.

Take action

Urgent action is needed to prevent the spread of e-cigarettes and combat nicotine addiction, along with a comprehensive approach to tobacco control and taking into account national contexts.

In countries that have banned the sale of e-cigarettes: Monitor compliance with the ban more closely and continue monitoring and surveillance to support public health efforts and effective enforcement.

In countries that allow the commercialization (sale, import, distribution and production) of e-cigarettes as consumer products: ensure that strict regulations are in place to reduce the appeal of such products and the harm they cause to the public, including by banning the use of any flavorings, restrictions on the content and quality of nicotine, as well as related taxes.

Quitting tobacco use

Based on available evidence, governments are not recommended to allow the sale of e-cigarettes as consumer products intended to assist in tobacco cessation.

Any government implementing a tobacco cessation strategy through the use of e-cigarettes should control the conditions of access to such products to ensure appropriate clinical conditions and regulate these products as medicines (including the need to obtain marketing authorization as medicines).

The decision to achieve a smoking cessation goal, even through such controlled interventions, should only be made taking into account national circumstances, as well as the risk of product distribution, after other proven tobacco cessation strategies have been tried.

Tobacco industry

The tobacco industry is cashing in on health losses and innovating its products, seeking a seat at the political table alongside governments and lobbying for rollbacks of health measures. WHO is concerned that tobacco companies are funding the collection and dissemination of pseudoscientific evidence of supposedly less harm from such products, while promoting them to children and non-smokers and continuing to sell billions of cigarettes.

Strong action must be taken against the spread of e-cigarettes given the growing evidence of their use and health risks among children and adolescents.