Are e-cigarettes and vapes safe alternatives to tobacco? Here is what experts say
Are e-cigarettes and vapes safe? The safety of e-cigarettes and vapes as alternatives to traditional tobacco products is a topic of ongoing debate among experts.
Health and child rights experts have expressed concerns about promoting e-cigarettes and vapes as safe and healthier alternatives to traditional tobacco products.
They warned that these products often serve as a gateway to traditional tobacco use and cautioned that this misleading narrative is a strategic effort by the industry to target and ensnare young people, particularly those between the ages of 10 and 19.
NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo also warned that these products are being promoted by anti-national forces to ensnare our youth. States are urged to take immediate and stringent measures to combat this threat.
"E-cigarettes and vapes are as dangerous as tobacco and drugs for our country. Once a child is addicted to these products, they can easily be drawn to other forms of tobacco," said Priyank Kanoongo, Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, enacted in 2019, bans all such products, including e-cigarettes and vapes. This law was implemented in India, which was already the second-largest market for tobacco, attracting many foreign-based companies looking to tap into the Indian market for vapes and e-cigarettes.
Meanwhile, Dr Naveen Thacker, the distinguished president of the International Paediatric Association (IPA), voiced serious concerns about the tobacco industry's tactics. "The industry is falsely promoting e-cigarettes and vapes as 'healthy' and harmless alternatives to traditional tobacco, with a relentless focus on targeting youth. This is a blatant lie. These products are just as harmful, and their deliberate targeting of children is unmistakable," he stated.
Dr Sudhanshu Kumar, Associate Professor, National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, remarked, "The industry consistently argues against such legal provisions, claiming they will reduce government revenue and promote the black market. However, saving lives must take precedence, and this approach is the only effective solution. Many other countries are now striving to follow our lead."
While e-cigarettes and vapes may offer a less harmful alternative for current smokers, they are not without risks. The potential for nicotine addiction, unknown long-term health effects, and the rise in youth usage are significant concerns.
- With inputs from agencies
