Health Officials of California announced that electronic cigarettes are a threat to health as they are planning to launch a statewide information campaign to citizens across the state.
According to the California Department of Health, e-cigarettes emit cancer-causing chemicals that are harmful for both users and non-users alike. They are urging the local government to regulate e-cigarettes like traditional tobacco cigarettes.
California Health Officer Ron Chapman said that, if not regulated, nicotine infused in the said device can lead to addiction which can greatly affect the new generation of young people who are the widest market of e-cigarettes.
"We really, rally strongly believe people of California need to know what is in e-cigarettes and the harm that they can cause," Chapman added.
In the study conducted by the California Department of Health, it was found out the e-cigarettes release more that 10 toxic chemicals, including benzene and acetaldehyde, which are known to cause cancer.
A report also said, "Without action, it is likely that California's more that two decades of progress to prevent and reduce traditional tobacco use will erode as e-cigarettes re-normalize smoking behavior."
Advocates of the devices however strongly suggest the falsity of the study stating that vaping, or the use of e-cigarettes, is much more healthier compared to traditional smoking.
Julie Woessner, executive director of Consumer Advocates for Smokefree Alternatives said, "They're grossly misinterpreting the safety profile of e-cigarettes. It's really disappointing. It's going to have an impact of discouraging people from making the switch from smoking, and it's going to cost lives."
The 2013 survey conducted by the health officers of CA showed that 6.3% of seventh-graders, 12.4% of ninth-graders, and 14.3% of 11th graders had used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days.
Dr. Chapman also added that e-cigarettes weren't "as harmful as traditional cigarettes, but they are no harmless."
The US Food and Drug Administration proposed a law banning the sale of e-cigarettes to minors and requiring manufacturers to submit their products for further testing and approval.
Oklahoma, Tennessee and Arkansas already started information campaigns on the negative effects of e-cigarettes.
