New Delhi: The Ministry of health and family welfare, Government of India has taken a step forward in banning e-cigarettes, popularly known as ENDS(Electronic Nicotine delivery systems) or “vapes”, which were assumed to be a safer alternative to smoking conventional cigarettes. According to The New Indian Express, the ban is expected to be in force within the first 100 days of the second term of the Modi government. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government is taking several measures to curb tobacco consumption in the country. Earlier, an advisory has been issued by the department of health and family welfare of all states and union territories to ban the sale, manufacture, distribution, trade, import and advertisement of e-cigarettes and 12 states in India have banned it. On a global scale, San Francisco, which hosts the leading e-cigarette manufacturers, Juul labs, may potentially be the first to ban e-cigarettes.
Youth, look up to e-cigarettes as an easier alternative with lesser harmful effects. In January 2018, according to certain lab and animal studies, it was seen that the vaporised aerosol containing nicotine and flavourings damaged the DNA causing lung and bladder cancer, including heart diseases.
What are e-cigarettes?
They are basically battery powered devices that contain a solution of nicotine and certain flavourings that are infused into an aerosol, heated in an atomiser and inhaled. They are generally known as smokeless cigarettes because they do not burn and hence, were believed to be safer when compared to conventional cigarettes. But recent studies reveal that the situation is quite contrary to the expectation and hence the government of India is on its threshold to ban e-cigarettes.
Vaping causes harmful effects on infants, adolescents, adult smokers, pregnant women and foetuses. World health organisation (WHO) claims the chemicals in the aerosols include toxicants.
– By Ruby Merlin Pinto
