E-cigarettes only in the smoking area

Federal Institute for Risk Assessment: e-cigarettes only in the smoking area

05/08/2012

According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), e-cigarettes should fall under the non-smoker protection legislation and should only be inhaled in special smoking areas. Even with e-cigarettes, passive smokers may face significant health risks.

With the strong increase in popularity of e-cigarettes in recent months a violent dispute over the advantages and disadvantages and the legal classification of the electronic steam stems flared up. While manufacturers, vendors and e-cigarette advocates point out that health is less burdensome than tobacco, critics warn of potential health risks from the e-cigarette's vapor. In a recent press release, the BfR has now decided to limit the consumption of e-cigarettes in public to smoker zones, since „Dangers for third parties according to the current state of knowledge can not be ruled out“ are.

Steam affects the health of e-smokers
In the press release, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment refers to the health risks that can derive from the ingredients of the liquids evaporated in e-cigarettes. Although the harmful substances and toxins typical for the burning of tobacco do not arise, the evaluation of some ingredients of e-cigarette liquid - such as nicotine, the nebulizer propylene glycol, additives and flavorings - has shown that the „Vapors of these substances affect the health of e-smokers“ can, according to the BfR. There is also the risk of contamination of the liquid by other potentially hazardous substances. Furthermore, the literature provides clues, „that some e-cigarette brands also release carcinogenic aldehydes“, reports the BfR.

Health risks of e-cigarette vapor unclear
In the e-cigarette liquids are evaporated, which are currently freely available in different flavors. Consumers can combine here at will or even compile their own substances, so that according to BfR is often unclear, „what exactly is inhaled and exhaled.“ Pollutants that are produced during evaporation of the liquids and released into the environment when exhaling the vapor can also be a health risk for bystanders, reports the BfR. In addition, given a large and rapidly growing product spectrum, liquid can not be captured in detail, „What an e-smoker actually inhales or exhales in the specific case and with which pollutants the breathing air is loaded.“ The refillable cartridges offer consumers almost unlimited possibilities to experiment and assemble their own liquids, „although concentrates and substances of concern can be used“, explained the BfR. The actual risks of the released emissions are therefore not recognizable for bystanders.

Smoking e-cigarettes only in smoking areas
In view of the unclear health risks which e-cigarettes can also pose to passive smokers, President of the BfR, Professor Dr. Andreas Hensel, in the current press release for, „Smoking e-cigarettes only in smoking areas“ to allow. In this way „E-cigarettes can not affect passive smokers“, stressed the BfR president. In non-smoking areas should also be prohibited e-cigarettes, because the products are „in the sense of non-smoker protection to treat like conventional cigarettes“, such is the position of the BfR. So far, there are no uniform legal requirements for dealing with e-cigarettes in the individual states. But even without legal requirements, e-smokers in the private sector should deal with e-cigarettes with similar care, as with conventional smuggling stalks, according to the BfR's announcement: Special caution is therefore required, for example, near children, pregnant women or the sick.

Legal conflict over the e-cigarette
The dispute over the handling of e-cigarettes has boiled for months high, with last in April, the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) had to accept a defeat at the Administrative Court of Cologne. The attempt to classify e-cigarettes as a drug for smoking cessation failed. Had the court followed the BfArM's assessment, the e-cigarette as a medicinal product would have had to go through a strict authorization process, which would also have taken into account the health risks. However, the court came to the conclusion that the e-cigarette should be classified as a stimulant because of a lack of therapeutic or health-preventive purpose. The BfArM claims to appeal against the verdict. (Fp)

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Image: Viktor Mildenberger