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E-Cigarettes

There’s a lot about e-cigarettes that many of us are unaware of – what are they exactly, and are they safe? Read on to uncover truths and myths clouding it!

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Vaping e-cigarettes more harmful and poisonous than you think

You may be familiar with the flavours and scents that come with these juices, but did you know that they come with a couple of secret ‘killer’ ingredients too?
Watch the video to find out more.

 
 

What are E-cigarettes?

What are E-cigarettes?

E-cigarettes have many names and are sometimes called ‘e-cigs’, ‘vapes’, ‘vape pens’, ‘mods’, or ‘Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems’ (ENDS). They are battery-operated devices that mimic the act of regular smoking by heating a liquid to generate an aerosol, which is inhaled by users through its mouthpiece and exhaled as a visible vapour.

E-cigarettes contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance that can affect brain development in youth. There are also many cancer-causing substances such as formaldehyde, benzene (produced when heated), and heavy metals such as lead.

What are e-cigarettes

E-cigarettes come  in a variety of shapes and sizes, some look like traditional tobacco products like cigarettes, cigars and pipes, while others resemble everyday items like USB flash drives and pens. This should not to be confused with heated tobacco products (HTP), also known as Heat-Not-Burn products, which consist of a small tobacco stick that is heated electronically, rather than burned.

Disposable e-cigarette, E-pipe
Large-size tank devices
Medium-size tank devices, E-cigar
Rechargaeble e-cigarettes

Globally, there is a worrying trend on the uptake of e-cigarettes, especially among youth. The promotion of e-cigarettes to the young has resulted in an exponential increase in the number of young people using e-cigarettes in other countries. For example, in the US, past 30-day use of e-cigarettes increased by nine- to ten-fold between 2011 to 20151 among middle and high school students. Youth are often attracted by the packaging and its wide variety of attractive flavours and scents.

Inside an E-cigarette

Inside an E-cigarette

Below are some of the common harmful chemicals found in e-cigarettes.
Read on to learn how each ingredient affects your body2,3.

Vape nicotine pesticides highly addictive long-lasting effects on youth and brain development Vape nicotine pesticides highly addictive long-lasting effects on youth and brain development
Vape formaldehyde used in embalming fluid and adhesives causes cancer and infertility Vape formaldehyde used in embalming fluid and adhesives causes cancer and infertility
Vape benzene used in fuel detergent causes cancer infertility leukemia Vape benzene used in fuel detergent causes cancer infertility leukemia
Vape toluene used in paints nail polish causes cancer and infertility Vape toluene used in paints nail polish causes cancer and infertility
Vape diacetyl used in food flavouring inhalation causes permanent lung scarring inflammation Vape diacetyl used in food flavouring inhalation causes permanent lung scarring inflammation
Vape metals aluminium lead iron nickel car batteries can cause respiratory diseases Vape metals aluminium lead iron nickel car batteries can cause respiratory diseases
Vape NNK natural compounds tobacco leaves stimulate cancerous tumour Vape NNK natural compounds tobacco leaves stimulate cancerous tumour
Recipe secret ingredient nicotine highly addictive

THE COCOATINI

The secret ingredient in this one is so
addictive, it could get you hooked for life!

Recipe secret ingredient benzene cancerous infertility

THE BENANA BLAST

Here’s a secret ingredient that will blow
your mind.

Recipe secret ingredient formaldehyde cancerous infertility

THE DEHYDURIAN

Love it or hate it, one thing’s for sure
– its secret ingredient is ‘to die for’.

Safeguarding
Singaporeans
from e-cigarettes

Safeguarding Singaporeans from e-cigarettes

While there are still ongoing health effects of e-cigarettes, existing evidence shows that  the harmful chemical composition within e-cigarettes pose many health risks to their users and non-users.

  Youth are particularly susceptible to long-term and long-lasting effects of exposing their developing brains to nicotine. These risks include nicotine addiction, failure to resist urges and changing the way our brains control attention and learning.

  Many authoritative scientific studies in the United States4 and United Kingdom5 have shown that youth who use e-cigarettes are more likely to progress to conventional cigarettes.

Vaping e-cigarettes banned for health and safety of Singaporeans

To protect the health and ensure the safety of all Singaporeans, new prohibitions on the purchase, use, and possession of emerging imitation tobacco products have been put into place from 1 February 2018. Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, a person must not import into Singapore, or distribute, sell, offer for sale or possess for sale in Singapore, any confectionery or other food product, or any toy, device or article —

  • i)that resembles, or is designed to resemble,
    a tobacco product;
  • ii)that is capable of being smoked;
  • iii)that may be used in such a way as to
    mimic the act of smoking; or
  • iv) the packaging of which resembles, or is
    designed to resemble, the packaging
    commonly associated with tobacco products.

Any persons caught purchasing, using or having in their possession of emerging and imitation tobacco products in Singapore, are liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000.

  • Information on illegal tobacco products in SingaporeTo learn more about the legislation on the prohibition of harmful and imitation tobacco products, please visit this link.

Here are some links to e-cigarette related matters:

  • Report any criminal activity on sale of tobacco products SingaporeTo report any information or sales of the above tobacco products in Singapore, please report to Health Science Authority here.
  • E-cigarette list of frequently asked questionsFor a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about e-cigarettes, please visit this link.

Sources:

  • 1 Surgeon General, E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults 2016
  • 2 San Francisco Dept. Public Health, SF Tobacco Free Project, sftobaccofree.org
  • 3 GASP of Colorado (Group to Alleviate Smoking Pollution) www.gaspforair.org
  • 4 Soneji, S. et al. (2017). Association Between Initial Use of e-Cigarettes and Subsequent Cigarette Smoking Among Adolescents and Young Adults. JAMA Pediatrics, 171(8), p.788
  • 5 Conner M, Grogan S, Simms-Ellis R, et al. Do electronic cigarettes increase cigarette smoking in UK adolescents? Evidence from a 12-month prospective study.
  • Tobacco Control Published Online First: 17 August 2017. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-053539
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