THE market for e-cigarettes and vapes have expanded at a startling rate over the past few years.
Witnessing friends and family members switch to a less harmful alternative had given me hope that societies have a chance to finally rid itself of toxic cigarette smoke for the first time since the start of the 20th century.
However, I recently came across new information and recommendations by the WHO on e-cigarettes and wanted to discuss this further given the increasing popularity of e-cigarettes and these devices.
The WHO tends to be the first point of reference for the general public for guidance on health and safety-related recommendations. The credibility of the WHO results in an ability to sway public opinion, causing a sense of comfort and reliability. Their website is full of info-graphics, factsheets and Q&A that is easily digestible. Upon reading their Q&A on e-cigarettes however, I was disturbed to see that much of the information was general and disregarded much of the studies already conducted in this area.
The rising popularity of using e-cigarettes and vapes and the like is not necessarily a good change, but it is undoubtedly a welcome shift from smoking cigarettes.
The WHO does acknowledge that it is too early to conclusively state the risks of these alternative products, and therefore recommended to not use either products. However, it would be wise to also discuss the use of less harmful alternatives rather than dismiss all products completely which could affect the public’s decision to move away from cigarettes.
Some of the biggest misconceptions about cigarettes and e-cigarettes is that nicotine is the primary source of serious harm.
This is not the case; the primary source is the smoke emitted from cigarettes. There are hundreds of toxic chemicals that are present in the smoke which can affect both the smoker and those around them. E-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and the like for the most part emit only vapour and thus do not contain these levels of toxic chemicals. It is important for the public to be aware of this as the Q&A by the WHO omits this information completely despite
numerous studies stating so. Should we really forego a potential solution which might save those dearest to us from cigarette smoke despite scientifically-backed evidence pointing toward its benefits?
Similarly, the WHO also claims that vaping was the main cause of a spike in lung injuries in the
United States of America in 2019, which can be misconstrued. The injuries were a result of the misuse of vape such as adding vitamin E acetate or vapes containing THC (cannabis).
Given the trust placed in recommendations by the WHO, it is imperative that they deliver the truth in what caused the lung injuries in order to prevent future occurrences.
The WHO has the resources to the various research reports and studies surrounding the use and regulations of e-cigarettes. Furthermore, they have the authority to influence public behavior towards health issues.
It is therefore important to use this authority and platform to deliver the complete and necessary information to the public with appropriate recommendations.
With the way the way we use and spread information and how quick we are to do so, the snippets of information provided by the WHO needs to be carefully referenced and detailed.
The public will continue to trust the WHO and needs the correct recommendations to ensure best practices.
We owe it to the generations after us to at least explore potential solutions to the world’s most deadly and persistent epidemic.
Thus, given its caliber, the WHO cannot be so general and dismissive with their recommendations if they hope to affect positive change.