Tag Archives: Public Health England e cigarette

Public Health England (PHE) have recently cleared up any untruth about E-cigarettes.

Generally, there is a mis-understanding of how harmful E-cigarettes are. However, the PHE have produced a report:

"clearing up some myths around e-cigarettes".

PHE are an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care in the UK.

We have blogged before that many are unclear of the safety of e-cigarettes. Here are the main points of PHE's recent report.

"Myth 1 - E-cigarettes give you 'popcorn lung'"

This was due to the chemical diacetyl. It can be at high levels has been linked to lung disease.  However, diacetyl is banned as an ingredient from all e-cigarettes and e-liquids in the UK.

"Myth 2 - E-Cigarettes aren't regulated and we don't know what's in them"

Firstly, E-cigarettes are now subject to quality and safety standards since Tobacco & Related Products Regulations 2016 (TPD).

All e-cigarette products have to be notified to:

• the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) with full information on ingredients.

All safe and declared companies can be found on their website.

"Myth 3 - E-Cigarettes must be harmful as they contain nicotine"

Nicotine is addictive. But it doesn't carry the cancer related chemicals that are contained in cigarette smoke.

E-cigarettes do not contain:

• firstly, tar
• secondly, carbon monoxide, which are the most dangerous components in smoking.

"Myth 4 - Exposure to e-cigarette vapour is harmful to bystanders"

E-cigarettes do not produce vapour that goes into the air. Only exhaled aerosol.  It is massive improvements. Also, PHE's latest evidence has found no:

"identified health risks of passive vaping to bystanders."

"Myth 5 - E-cigarettes will lead young people into smoking"

PHE's report has found no indication so far to confirm this. There is many proofs for this statement.

 Some young people are:

• trying it out
• but reports are showing that few are taking it up.

"Myth 6 - E-cigarettes are like a Trojan horse. Only, so the tobacco industry can keep people smoking"

• There is no proof that e-cigarettes are motivating people to continue to smoke. It is strong argument.
• The main e-cigarette users are ex-smokers.
• also, the numbers of smokers switching to e-cigarettes is on the increase. It is very good news.

For the full PHE story click here

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E-cigarettes should be available on prescription.

The review was conducted by:

• experts from King's College London
• UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies,
• the University of Stirling and Cancer Research UK.

It is reported that Public Health England (PHE) have said:

"E-cigarettes should be available on prescription".

Also, they should be sold in hospital shops.

Public Health England have said that:

• in the next few years they want to see e-cigarettes available on prescription.
• They believe it will be useful for people giving up smoking.

The latest review published by Public Health England suggests companies provide vaping rooms. It was also suggested that hospitals provide vaping areas.

PHE's Director of Health Improvement, John Newton has asked:

• if the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency can make it easier for manufacturers to get medicinal licenses.
• He went on to say that there was evidence to say that e-cigarettes are safer than smoking.

Here are some of the findings from the recent independent review by PHE.

For the full article  click here

• firstly, vaping poses only a small fraction of the risks of smoking. Switching completely from smoking to vaping conveys substantial health benefits.
• secondly, e-cigarettes could be contributing to at least 20,000 successful new quits per year. Possibly many more.
• e-cigarette improved quit success rates over the last year. Also, accelerated drop in smoking rates across the country.
• many thousands of smokers incorrectly believe that vaping is as harmful as smoking.
• also, there is much public misunderstanding about nicotine.
• less than 10% of adults understand  harms to health from smoking are not from nicotine.
• the evidence does not support the concern that e-cigarettes are a route into smoking among young people
• also, youth smoking rates in the UK continue to decline.

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E-Cigarettes in the Workplace

As we all know smoking in public places and places of work has been banned in the UK for over 10 years now.  On the other hand, what are the rules regarding E-cigarettes in the Workplace and vaping? The rules are vague with no definite guidelines.

However, in the US e-cigarettes are regulated on a state by state basis. Some states have completely banned e-cigarettes from public places and places of work.  Which begs the question how companies who have many locations will be able to regulate these rules throughout their company?

The UK have no bans on vaping in public places or work places and it is down to the individual company to allow employees to vape or not.   Due to the absence of any set rules and regulations from a governing body, it makes it fairly problematic for the employer.

Here's some guidance from Public Health England on the use of E-cigarettes in the Workplace and public places, however they have specified that this is a guide and may not work for everyone.

1. Make a clear distinction between vaping and smoking
2. Ensure policies are based on evidence of harm to bystanders
3. Identify and manage risks of uptake by children and young people
4. Support smokers to stop smoking and stay smoke free.
5. Support compliance with smoke free law and policies

Whilst being very supportive towards vaping, it still doesn’t help employers set clear rules for their employees.

However, not one size fits all so perhaps it is better for the employer to make that decision themselves and base it on number of employees they have, environment, amount of employees that vape and maybe ask the employees what they want to do.

Click here for the full article from Public Health England and for the full documentation click here