Abstract
As the tobacco epidemic has waned, it has been followed by the advent of electronic nicotine delivery devices (ENDS) primarily manufactured by the tobacco industry to try to recruit replacements for deceased tobacco addicts. This document sets out the ten recommendations of the European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP) with regard to e-cigarettes and children and young people (CYP). The EAP notes that nicotine is itself a drug of addiction, with toxicity to the foetus, child and adult, and were ENDS only to contain nicotine, their use to create a new generation of addicts would be rigorously opposed. However, e-cigarettes include numerous unregulated chemicals, including known carcinogens, whose acute and long term toxicities are unknown. The EAP asserts that there is incontrovertible evidence that the acute toxicity of e-cigarettes is greater than that of “traditional” tobacco smoking, and a variety of acute pulmonary toxicities, including acute lung injuries, have been recorded due to e-cigarettes usage. The chronic toxicity of e-cigarettes is unknown, but given the greater acute toxicity compared to tobacco, the EAP cannot assume that e-cigarettes are safer in the long term. The high uptake of e-cigarettes by CYP, including under-age children, is partly fuelled by deceitful marketing and internet exposure, which is also unregulated. Although proposed as aids to smoking cessation, there is no evidence that e-cigarettes add anything to standard smoking cessation strategies. In summary, the EAP regards these devices and liquids as very dangerous, and ineluctably opposed to their use, and their direct or indirect marketing.
Highlights
The adverse health effects of tobacco, which extend right across the developmental course from transgenerational to antenatal through childhood to old age are well-documented
These are advertised as being a safer and more socially acceptable form of smoking. This statement sets out the reasons why the European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP) believes these new developments are potentially more harmful to children and young people (CYP) even than “traditional” tobacco smoking
The context of these recommendations is the truly terrifyingly rapid embracing of these products by young people; the hugely increasing use of social media and manipulations thereof by the tobacco industry in particular, who are the major suppliers of these products; their acquisition by under-age children; and the likelihood that their use will lead to a new generation of nicotine addicts
Summary
The adverse health effects of tobacco, which extend right across the developmental course from transgenerational to antenatal through childhood to old age are well-documented. This statement sets out the reasons why the European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP) believes these new developments are potentially more harmful to children and young people (CYP) even than “traditional” tobacco smoking This applies to nicotine containing products, and to nicotine free liquids. The consequence of the evidence that will be marshalled here is that the EAP will make ten recommendations on the approach to these products, which build on those published earlier by EAP and other international Societies The context of these recommendations is the truly terrifyingly rapid embracing of these products by young people; the hugely increasing use of social media and manipulations thereof by the tobacco industry in particular, who are the major suppliers of these products; their acquisition by under-age children; and the likelihood that their use will lead to a new generation of nicotine addicts. “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me” as the old Italian proverb states
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
