In the international market, electronic cigarettes are growing at an annual rate of over 80%. In 2005, there was only one electronic cigarette company in China; today, the industry has grown to nearly 500 brands, and the global transaction volume is as high as 3 billion US dollars. China is a major producer of electronic cigarettes. 90% of the world's electronic cigarettes are produced in China. Currently, the production of e-cigarettes in China is in the state of “three nos”: no product standards, no quality supervision, no safety evaluation.
Data from the survey of adult tobacco in urban China shows that 46.9% of respondents in Shenyang have heard of electronic cigarettes and only 0.2% of adult smokers use electronic cigarettes. It cannot be overlooked that teenagers are becoming new targets for electronic cigarette manufacturers. According to the “2014 China Youth Tobacco Survey Report”, 45% of junior high school students in China have heard of electronic cigarettes, and 1.2% of junior high school students have used electronic cigarettes in the past 30 days.
Electronic cigarette manufacturers attract teenagers by adding various taste additives to electronic cigarette liquid bombs and changing electronic cigarette packaging. Recently, a number of media reported that fruity "electronic cigarettes" quietly entered the campus. Since nicotine in e-cigarettes is addictive, the possibility of using traditional cigarettes after nicotine addiction is greatly increased. Therefore, among young people, e-cigarettes are likely to become the entry products for smoking, leading to an increase in smoking among young people in the future. How to avoid the use of electronic cigarettes by young people in China has become a top priority.
WHO takes you to scientifically understand electronic cigarettes
In October 2014, the World Health Organization submitted the “Electronic Nicotine Delivery System” report at the 6th meeting of the WHO FCTC Parties to assess the health risks of electronic cigarettes, the effectiveness of smoking cessation, and the impact on tobacco control policies.
1, Electronic cigarette safety has no scientific argument
The available evidence shows that the aerosol of electronic cigarettes is not just “water vapor” as often claimed when marketing these products, it still contains nicotine, toxic substances and produces fine, ultra-fine particles. The use of electronic cigarettes poses a serious threat to adolescents and fetuses.
Interpretation: Because e-cigarettes have no smoke that can be seen with the naked eye, this false "safety" makes consumers generally think that using it is safer than smoking. However, the content of nicotine and other chemicals in e-cigarettes varies greatly, and consumers cannot know what substances they actually contain. E-cigarettes cannot eliminate the health effects of second-hand smoke on non-smokers because electronic cigarettes also emit inhalable liquid fine and ultrafine particles, nicotine, and carcinogens into the room.
2, electronic cigarette can not help quit smoking
There is no evidence that the electronic cigarette can help quitting smoking. For most smokers, the use of e-cigarettes will result in a reduction in the use of cigarettes, rather than quitting smoking. This will lead to double use of electronic cigarettes and cigarettes.
Interpretation: As early as in 2008, the World Health Organization put forward a request that “electronic cigarette promoters should stop propaganda without evidence to quit smoking”. There is currently no government or institutional structure that approves any electronic cigarette product for smoking cessation. The use of e-cigarettes cannot achieve the full health benefits of smoking cessation, and tobacco registrants are still recommended to seek professional smoking cessation services such as quitting hotlines or smoking cessation clinics.
3, WHO's recommendations
The WHO believes that although many issues regarding the use of e-cigarettes have yet to be studied, from a health perspective, there is now a need to regulate e-cigarettes:
1Prohibiting manufacturers and third parties claiming that electronic cigarettes have health benefits
2 Requirements Electronic Cigarette Users shall not use the product indoors
3 Prohibit the use of electronic cigarettes in public places and workplaces by law
4 All Parties should consider effective restrictions on the advertising, promotion and sponsorship of electronic cigarettes, and print risk warnings on packaging.
5 Prohibition of selling electronic cigarettes to young people
