As the council for Harm Reduced Alternatives, a national tobacco harm reduction organisation and Association of Vapers India, an advocacy group that represents e-cigarette users warn government says that e-cigarette is 95% less harmful compared to those containing tobacco so they are planned for Banning e-cigarettes.  It also says that it reduces the safer choice for smokers and causes damage to public health. Banning e-cigarettes as per CHRA, it promotes harm reduction programme. These group sought that the government carry out an evidence-based study before banning the E-cigarette.

E-cigarette not only less harmful compared to tobacco cigarettes but also help smokers wean off the nicotine dependence. CHRA said that regulatory permission for the use of an e-cigarette in developed countries like the US, EU, UK yield positive results. Here with smoking rates falling in recent years.

AVI said toxic chemicals and tar produced from the burning of cigarette were the main culprit for tobacco-related death across the world, not the nicotine. E-cigarette had nicotine but no tar as there was no combustion and banning e-cigarettes would deny the country’s 120 million smokers lower risk means of nicotine intake and cessation. The scientific study in the UK and elsewhere have convinced health experts and government to switch to vaping. It poses a far lower risk to bystanders than passive smoking.

The way ahead

But it does not mean that they are completely safe. At high temperature, it produces carcinogens such as formaldehyde. But these are fewer in number compare to the regular cigarette. Thet heats a liquid to generate nicotine containing aerosol, instead of burning tobacco. They produce less tar. It also increases the odds of lung disease and myocardial infarction but to a lesser extent. It is impossible for any country to ban completely at one time. The government could regulate the sale of e-cigarettes under the cigarette and other tobacco product act to prevent teens from using them.