VAPORISERS AND HEAT-NOT-BURN TOBACCO PRODUCTS

[wisepowder]

Singapore has banned the importation, sale, distribution for sale, possession, use and purchase of emerging and imitation tobacco products to protect our population from the known and unknown health risks of such products. These products include e-cigarettes and other types of vaporisers [also known as Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)], and heated tobacco products. To get more news about HNB, you can visit hitaste official website.

1. Concerns on potential gateway effect

E-cigarettes and vaporisers may cause non-smokers, particularly youths, to become addicted to nicotine, and serve as a gateway to experimentation and regular use of cigarettes later on.

There is evidence that e-cigarette use in non-smokers is associated with future cigarette smoking.

The United States (US) Surgeon General reported that e-cigarette use is strongly associated with the use of cigarettes among youths and young adults[1]. This is supported by a systematic review of nine studies involving more than 16,000 youths in the US which found that e-cigarette users were three times more likely to become cigarette smokers as compared to non-users[2]. Most recently, the US National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine conducted an analysis of all existing scientific evidence relating to e-cigarettes and concluded that there is substantial evidence that e-cigarette use increases risk of ever using regular cigarettes among youths and young adults[3].

In the United Kingdom, a study involving 2,836 adolescents found that people who used e-cigarettes were four times more likely to have started smoking 12 months later[4]. Other studies in Canada and Poland similarly support this gateway effect.

2. E-cigarettes and vaporisers are inherently harmful

E-cigarettes may expose users to chemicals and toxins at levels that have the potential to cause adverse health effects. There is growing evidence to suggest that the long-term inhalation of flavourings used in most e-liquids is likely to pose a risk to health. The long term safety of their use also remains unclear. What is clear is that vapour from e-cigarettes contain nicotine, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), cancer-causing agents, toxic chemicals, and toxic metal nanoparticles, all of which are harmful to health.

Nicotine is a highly addictive stimulant drug. Short-term effects of nicotine exposure include increased breathing rate, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure and, in more extreme cases, sweating, nausea and diarrhoea. Nicotine exposure also primes users to the use of other addictive drugs. The long-term use of nicotine has been linked to harmful effects on the development of unborn babies as well as on adolescent brain function and development. In addition, nicotine has been found to promote the growth of cancers and cause resistance to cancer treatment drugs[5].