Why in the news?
The central government has launched a portal to report
violations of the ban on e-cigarettes. e-cigars were banned by the central
government in 2019, but are still sold in e-commerce sites.
The e-cigarettes are banned under Electronic cigarettes
(production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution,
storage and advertisement) Act (PECA) in India.
What are e-cigarettes?
1. E-cigarettes are known by different
names - e-cigs, e-hookahs, mods, vapes, tank systems, and electronic nicotine
delivery systems (ENDS).
2. Most e-cigs have a battery, a heating
element, and a place to hold a liquid.
3. The liquid when heated produces
aerosol usually contains nicotine, a psychoactive ingredient used in tobacco
products.
4. Users inhale the aerosol into their
lungs, which may also affect the bystanders.
5. E-cigarettes are also used to deliver marijuana and other drugs.
Health impacts of using E-cigarettes:
1. Highly addictive.
2. Toxic to developing foetuses.
3. Causes harm to adolescent and young
adult brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s.
4. Carcinogenic impacts as
cancer-causing chemicals and tiny particles can reach deep into lungs.
5. Unintended injuries - Defective
e-cigarette batteries can cause fires and explosions leading to serious
injuries.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved
E-cigarettes usage because of its low chemical toxicity and a way to quit
smoking. But it has led users to adopt dual use- e-cigarettes and normal
cigarettes and also attracted new users through e-commerce website sales.
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Tobacco usage
in India: 1.
India is the second largest producer and consumer of
tobacco. 2.
Tobacco consumption is one of the major causes of death
accounting for nearly 1.35 million deaths every year. 3.
Prevalent form of tobacco use in India is, a.
Smokeless tobacco products - khaini, gutkha, betel quid
with tobacco and zarda. b. Smoking forms of tobacco - bidi, cigarette and hookah.
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Immunization in India
