Groups cite harmful effects of e-cigarettes

Cancer survivors and members of the Quezon City - based New Vois Association of the Philippines (NVAP) warned the public on the harmful health effects of vaping / e-cigarettes based on studies conducted and released in the United States.

NVAP president Emer Rojas urged Filipinos, particulalry the youth, to avoid getting hooked on vaping as studies confirmed what health advocates have been saying all along – that e-cigarettes are as dangerous to people as smoking regular cigarettes.

Many youngsters have found it cool and fashionable to use ecigarettes as the smoke emitted from it spreads flavorful fruit odor while the smoke draws public attention.

One study found that vaping daily is linked with twice the risk of heart attack while smoking regular tobacco increases the risk by three times.

“This belies what the vaping community was promoting – that e-cigarettes are a safer alternative to smoking. E-cigarettes must then be banned from public use until proper regulation is enacted.” Rojas said.

“Let us not commit the same mistake we had with cigarettes which were regarded safe and marketed as beneficial way back in the fifties,” he added.

The study was recently presented by Stanton Glantz, lead author and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and also the director of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education.

The Sigaw ng Kabataan Coalition (SKC) likewise aired its concern on the growing number of young people using ecigarettes.

“It is quite alarming to see students and young people using e-cigarettes. Many think that e-cigarettes are safe but actually they may also pose risks as they become the new addictive craze that may harm the lungs,” said Ellirie Aviles, SKC president.

“E-cigarettes should never be considered as an alternative to traditional smoking as aside from nicotine they were also proven to contain many of the toxins and cancer-causing ingredients present in conventional tobacco,” he added.