Examination of the impacts of e-cigarettes smoking on the tobacco non-smokers

Abstract

Significance and Aim: The effects of cigarettes smoking on both smokers and non-smoker have been an issue of global public health concern. This led to the emergence of e-cigarettes as an alternative to help smokers in their smoking quitting journey. However, it has remained unclear on the public health costs this has on the non-smokers. The ILR Review is developed to examine the public health the use of e-cigarettes have on non-smokers. Methods: The ILR sourced data from four databases Scopus, Medline, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. This was through a keyword search process using the ‘e-cigarettes’ or ‘vaping’ AND ‘addiction’ AND ‘non-smokers’ AND ‘effects OR ‘consequences, search phrases. The search protocol was replicated for all the databases. The findings from the search process were Scopus (419), Medline (283), CINAHL (311), and Google Scholar (321). The ILR applied inclusion and exclusion criteria and the GRADE model to assess the quality of the articles. Consequently, only 23 articles remained for analysis and inclusion in the ILR findings. Finally, the articles were screed through the EQUATOR PRISMA tool and extracted in readiness for analysis. Findings and Analysis: The results demonstrate that the use of e-cigarettes has two leading public health implications on non-smokers, namely (i) the risk of new addictions and (ii) the risk of health-related illnesses. The findings affirm that the ease of accessing the e-cigarettes, the marketing craze, and the low cost of acquiring them has exposed a rising number of young people to its new addiction. The addiction could at times progress into tobacco smoking addiction. Secondly, the findings indicate that second hand smoke exposure, also known as passive smoking exposes the public to increased lung cancer, lung diseases and COPD illnesses. Conclusion: The ILR concludes that e-cigarettes have far-reaching public health concerns on non-smokers. This necessitates the need for increased restrictions and control on the e-cigarettes access and availability. This is in addition to enacting strict regulations on smoking areas and freedom.