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. 2015 Mar;20(2):101-5.
doi: 10.1093/pch/20.2.101.

E-cigarettes: Are we renormalizing public smoking? Reversing five decades of tobacco control and revitalizing nicotine dependency in children and youth in Canada

Richard Stanwick  1
Affiliations

E-cigarettes: Are we renormalizing public smoking? Reversing five decades of tobacco control and revitalizing nicotine dependency in children and youth in Canada

Richard Stanwick. Paediatr Child Health. 2015 Mar.

Abstract
in English, French

An electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) is a battery attached to a chamber containing liquid that may (or may not) contain nicotine. The battery heats the liquid and converts it into a vapour, which is inhaled, mimicking tobacco smoking. The e-cigarette does not rely on tobacco as a source of nicotine but, rather, vaporizes a liquid for inhalation. E-liquids are often flavoured and may contain nicotine in various concentrations, although actual amounts are seldom accurately reflected in container labelling. The deleterious effects of nicotine on paediatric health are well established. The use of e-cigarettes in the paediatric age group is on the rise in Canada, as are associated nicotine poisonings. E-devices generate substantial amounts of fine particulate matter, toxins and heavy metals at levels that can exceed those observed for conventional cigarettes. Children and youth are particularly susceptible to these atomized products. Action must be taken before these devices become a more established public health hazard. Policies to denormalize tobacco smoking in society and historic reductions in tobacco consumption may be undermined by this new 'gateway' product to nicotine dependency.

La cigarette électronique (vapoteuse) est une batterie fixée à un réservoir rempli d’un liquide qui peut (ou non) contenir de la nicotine. La batterie réchauffe le liquide et le convertit en vapeur, qui est inhalée afin d’imiter le tabagisme. La source de nicotine de la vapoteuse ne provient pas du tabac, mais le dispositif vaporise un liquide en vue de son inhalation. Ces e-liquides, souvent aromatisés, peuvent contenir de la nicotine sous diverses concentrations, mais leur quantité réelle est rarement bien indiquée sur l’emballage. Les effets délétères de la nicotine sur la santé sont bien établis dans le groupe d’âge pédiatrique. Le vapotage est en hausse au sein de ce groupe au Canada, de même que les intoxications à la nicotine qui y sont associées. Les vapoteuses produisent de grandes quantités de particules fines, de toxines et de métaux lourds, à des taux qui peuvent dépasser ceux de la cigarette conventionnelle. Les enfants et les adolescents sont particulièrement susceptibles à ces produits atomisés. Il faut agir avant que ces dispositifs deviennent un danger mieux établi en santé publique. Cette nouvelle « porte d’accès » à la dépendance à la nicotine pourrait saboter les politiques visant à « dénormaliser » le tabagisme dans la société, ainsi que les réductions historiques de consommation du tabac.

Keywords: Healthy public policy; Heavy metal exposure; Nicotine dependency; Nicotine poisoning; Normalization; Smoking; Vaping.

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