Australia’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) has joined the Chief Health Officers of the States and Territories to issue as statement relating to the sale and use of e-cigarettes.
Professor Brendan Murphy said there was growing evidence implicating the use of e-cigarettes – commonly known as vaping – in a range of dangers to individual and population health.
“E-cigarettes are relatively new products and the long-term safety and health effects associated with their use and exposure to second-hand vapour are unknown,” Professor Murphy said.
“International evidence is emerging of a possible link between the use of e-cigarettes and severe lung disease…at least six fatalities being linked with vaping in the United States.”
He said individuals who used e-cigarettes presenting with unexplained respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, chest pain), sometimes associated with gastrointestinal and other non-specific symptoms, should seek medical advice.
“Clinicians should ask patients whether they are using e-cigarettes in the same context as encouraging smoking cessation and should reiterate that no e-cigarette product has been evaluated for safety,” Professor Murphy said.
He said the liquids used in e-cigarettes could contain nicotine, but also flavourings and harmful substances such as heavy metals, volatile organic compounds and cancer-causing chemicals.
Anyone using e-cigarette products or who were exposed to e-cigarette emissions and/or e-liquids was potentially at risk, he said.
The CMO and State and Territory Health Officers’ full statement can be accessed in full at this PS News link.