Even if the harm of electronic cigarettes was exposed at this year’s 3.15 party, the electronic cigarette industry is still one of the hot spots in the investment community this year. Advertising from various channels is constantly being promoted. Under the packaging of manufacturers, electronic cigarettes seem to represent a kind of Easy and healthy lifestyle.
Is it really the truth? Just on September 15, Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York State, announced an “emergency executive order” banning the sale of flavored electronic cigarettes. The reason is simple. The New York Governor’s Office said that the executive order aims to eliminate deceptive e-cigarette marketing to underage users and increase the age of e-cigarette purchases from 18 to 21 before the relevant legislation is introduced.
In Hangzhou, the “Strict Control of Tobacco” formally implemented on January 1st of this year also includes electronic cigarettes in the scope of plant control. E-cigarette smoking is also prohibited in the no-smoking places fixed in the “Regulations.” The Qianjiang Evening News reporter learned that as of now, relevant Hangzhou departments have not issued penalties for electronic cigarettes.
Why does e-cigarette affect young people more? Why are more and more cities banning it completely?
18-year-old teenager smoking electronic cigarette
Difficulty breathing when climbing stairs
“The first thing we can be sure of is that more and more young people are getting exposed to e-cigarettes, which is a very bad trend.” Deputy Chief Physician, Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, and Tobaccoology Group member Li Hequan said.
The judgment of this trend comes from a sample questionnaire survey conducted by research institutions in some middle schools. “How many people are using e-cigarettes? There are no statistics in China, but from a local perspective, the use of e-cigarettes is gradually becoming popular among young people. . ”
Figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that in 2018 alone, approximately 3.6 million U.S. middle school students used e-cigarettes, an increase of 1.5 million from 2017.
Following this alarming number is an e-cigarette death that is hard to ignore. As of September 6, 2019, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported more than 450 serious lung diseases related to the use of “e-cigarettes” Of the cases, another 5 died between the ages of 19 and 49, and reports indicate that they all had a history of smoking electronic cigarettes before their death. Although the cause of death is still under investigation, the CDC has called for people to consider stopping using e-cigarettes until the cause is found.
The latest example comes from Adam, an 18-year-old young man who had been using an e-cigarette for more than a year and was found to have lung damage not long ago. According to CCTV news reports, doctors told Adam that the damage was irreversible. When he was sick, he could no longer move like a normal person, even climbing stairs would be out of breath, and his childhood dream of becoming a firefighter almost disappeared.
18-year-old Adam brought a well-known U.S. e-cigarette maker to court in a paper indictment. In the indictment, Adam and his attorney accused the well-known U.S. e-cigarette maker “Jueer” through social media and other channels. The suggestion that “e-cigarettes can enhance social status” is instilled in young people, but the harmful ingredients contained in their e-cigarette products have not been fully disclosed.
Damage the respiratory tract
E-cigarettes show their true colors
“Compared with traditional plant, the harm of electronic cigarettes is indeed much smaller. The carcinogens released by electronic cigarettes are only about 5% to 10% of traditional plant.” Li Hequan said.
The American Herbert Gilbert put forward the concept of e-cigarette in 1963. He envisioned that the burning of plant can release harmful substances, so whether it can reduce the harm of plant by extracting the effective ingredients of plant for human consumption. In 2003, Chinese pharmacist Han Li successfully developed an electronic cigarette and held a patent for the first time. Its principle is to prepare liquid smoke liquid by means of electronic heating to produce steam smoke for users to consume. The main component of the smoke oil is nicotine, with a small amount. Additives such as propylene glycol, glycerol and various flavors.
Han Li applied for a patent in 2003, and the company he worked for developed the “Ruyan” electronic cigarette, which began to be sold in China in 2004. E-cigarettes entered Europe and the United States in 2006 and have grown rapidly since 2008. Nearly 90% of e-cigarettes on the international market are made in China. In 2013, Han Li’s patent was acquired by British Imperial Tobacco.
“The original intention of the invention of electronic cigarettes was to reduce the harm of smoking as a substitute for plant. The most suitable users are those who are serious plant addicts who cannot quit smoking through various effective and scientific methods of quitting smoking.” Li Hequan said since the plant After the company acquired the patent, the promotion of e-cigarettes was covered by “healthy” and “harmless”, which made people who were not smokers begin to use e-cigarettes. Young people are the main force of this group. “E-cigarette use Among them, 60% to 70% will become smokers, and this is the biggest harm of electronic cigarettes to young people. ”
Literature from the United States also supports a similar point of view. On August 13, the Journal of the American Medical Association Journal of Pediatrics (JAMAPediatr) stated that teens who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke marijuana. The study analyzed 128,227 adolescents aged 12 to 24 years and found that e-cigarette users were 3.5 times more likely to smoke marijuana than others. They usually tried e-cigarettes before using marijuana.
Reduced carcinogens
Other hazards increase
Although e-cigarettes emit less carcinogens, the e-cigarettes will release harmful substances such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein during the heating process, and may also change the composition of certain chemical substances, resulting in new potential hazards, such as high temperature e-liquid Steam can cause acute damage to the airways and alveoli.
In addition, in order to improve the smoking taste of electronic cigarettes, manufacturers will add flavors of various flavors to the e-liquid, such as candy, snack, mint, and fruit. However, only a few of the flavors added to the smoke liquid have passed rigorous inspection. The flavoring agents used in some liquids, such as menthol, are safe in food and cosmetics, but their safety after entering the respiratory system is unknown. “Most flavoring agents can cause health risks when used for a long time, especially sweet flavoring agents. Many flavoring agents are also irritating and can induce and aggravate respiratory inflammation.” Li Hequan said.
Fortunately, more and more people are aware of the dangers of e-cigarettes. In August 2018, the State Administration of Market Supervision and Administration and the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration issued a notice prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. This is the first time at the national level. Sound for electronic cigarettes. However, e-cigarette sales have been banned in Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, and other countries and regions.