When you think of the flavors of popcorn and caramel, you may find that you're remembering childhood visits to the circus or a baseball game. But today, those two popular flavors are being exploited to get kids hooked on vaping, and the consequences are life-shattering. The chemicals found in those flavorings (diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione) actually work to destroy an inhaler's lung function.
We frequently tell you about the harmful effects of vaping, but this is a new danger. The info comes from a study recently published in Scientific Reports by researchers in the Department of Environmental Health at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Ironically, that report comes on the heels of British research that found e-cigarettes are twice as effective at helping smokers quit as nicotine gums or patches. Yeah, but the question is, "At what cost?"
Maybe it's time for the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to take seriously the epidemic of e-cigarette use among our youth (and among cigarette smokers who think it's a healthier alternative). They should listen to the American Lung Association's recent report on the serious health hazards of e-cigarettes. It blasted local and federal governments for failing to keep kids away from e-cigarettes.
We'd like to see a real campaign to have age-restricted (21) access to e-cigs and tobacco (we say online, too). The government should provide additional funding for tobacco and vape prevention, and safe cessation treatment options (gum, patches, medication and support groups are the smart choices).
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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