E-cigarettes

Context:

The Australian government said it wanted to crack down on the use of e-cigarettes in an effort to reduce smoking and stamp out vaping.

About e-cigarettes:

E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that heat a solution of nicotine and different flavours to create aerosol, which is then inhaled.
These devices belong to a category of vapour-based nicotine products called ENDS.
An e-cigarette emits vaporise nicotine, or non-nicotine solutions.
The user inhales it looking for a sensation similar to inhaling tobacco smoke, but without the smoke.

Associated Harms:

These products have neither been assessed for safety in the national population, nor been approved under provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
As per the white paper released by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) the uses of ENDS, or e-cigarettes, have “documented adverse effects” which include
- DNA damage
- carcinogenesis (initiation of cancer formation)
- cellular, molecular and immunological toxicity
- respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological disorders
- impacts on foetal development and pregnancy.