Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) such as e-cigarettes,
vaping devices, e-sheesha, e-nicotine-flavoured hookah and heat-not-burn
devices, citing the risk posed to children, adolescents and women in
the reproductive age. It adds that ENDS has already been banned in 30
countries.Such devices are often misunderstood as Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) .
“People believe that the cancer-causing element is absent in the devices and are simply getting the pleasure of smoking. But several studies have found that use of ENDS leads to initiation of smoking.
A cigarette contains four to six milligrams of nicotine whereas most cartridges used in ENDS contain an equivalent of 10 mg of nicotine, but in liquid form. While the cost of a cigarette starts from ₹7, a cartridge costs at least ₹200. Experts say that when it begins to pinch the pocket, most ENDS users go back to cigarettes.
“There is no data or literature that supports any positive health outcomes from ENDS. Worse, many children are falling prey to its use as they are under the false belief that the absence of tobacco makes it safe. Many doctors wrongly advise e-cigarette use to control their patients’ smoking habits too,”
Nicotine can have adverse effects on the development of the foetus, may contribute to cardiovascular diseases and could function as a “tumour promoter”.
“Foetal and adolescent nicotine exposure may have long-term consequences for brain development, potentially leading to learning and anxiety disorders,” the notification warns.
A misconception
In most ENDS, instead of tobacco, nicotine is used in a chemical form. Thus, users of these devices believe that they are not smoking tobacco, but in reality, they continue to have the addictive chemical.“People believe that the cancer-causing element is absent in the devices and are simply getting the pleasure of smoking. But several studies have found that use of ENDS leads to initiation of smoking.
A cigarette contains four to six milligrams of nicotine whereas most cartridges used in ENDS contain an equivalent of 10 mg of nicotine, but in liquid form. While the cost of a cigarette starts from ₹7, a cartridge costs at least ₹200. Experts say that when it begins to pinch the pocket, most ENDS users go back to cigarettes.
“There is no data or literature that supports any positive health outcomes from ENDS. Worse, many children are falling prey to its use as they are under the false belief that the absence of tobacco makes it safe. Many doctors wrongly advise e-cigarette use to control their patients’ smoking habits too,”
Nicotine alert
An article in the Indian Journal of Medical and Paediatric Oncology, in 2015, said that the biological effects of nicotine are cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and reproductive systems. It said: “Nicotine has also been found to be carcinogenic in several studies.”Nicotine can have adverse effects on the development of the foetus, may contribute to cardiovascular diseases and could function as a “tumour promoter”.
“Foetal and adolescent nicotine exposure may have long-term consequences for brain development, potentially leading to learning and anxiety disorders,” the notification warns.
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