PDF《甚麽是电子烟？》

8:e016046. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016046 2. E-cigarettes: Public Health England's evidence-based confusion, Editorial;

Lancet 2015: (386) p829 3. Stanton AG: Evidence about electronic cigarettes: a foundation built on rock or sand? BMJ 2015;

351:h4863 Frequently-Asked-Questions on Total Ban of E-Cigarette/Heat-Not-Burn Tobacco Products 1. Is E-Cigarette a Healthier Choice for Smokers? The tobacco industry tells you that e-cigarette is a healthier choice for smokers. This is a total excuse. Tobacco industry might also say they support regulating such products to prevent selling to minors. The fact is in those countries where e-cigarettes are legal products, youth is the most growing population of users. Among these countries, some do prohibit such products in selling to minors. Marketed as trendy products to youngsters and children, e-cigarettes are usually with colorful packages and produced in flavours like popcorn, ice-cream, candies, cookies, fruit and bizarre flavours. Do you still remember the news clip on a group of children gathered in a park and smoking e-cigarette? 2. Is E-Cigarette a Tool for Quitting Smoking? There is insufficient scientific evidence so far to support the claim that e-cigarettes can help quit smoking. In a 10-year follow-up study1 in the United Kingdom with almost 200,000 subjects, no clear evidence for an association between e-cigarette use specifically for smoking reduction and changes in daily cigarette consumption. 3. Is E-Cigarette Safer than Traditional Tobacco Products? The tobacco industry tells you e-cigarette is less harmful than traditional tobacco products. The truth is even tobacco industry cannot claim that e-cigarette or HNB tobacco products are harmless to health. These products contain harmful substances such as heavy metals and carcinogenic substances. Nicotine can affect brain development in children. These products also create second- and third-hand smokes, and there is no safety level for substances being released. These products contain no beneficial substances to our body. "Only steam will be released from e-cigarettes." This is a lie! E-cigarettes release toxic vapour which affect the users' lungs. Parents might aware and bring children away from the choking smoke released by traditional tobacco products. While the aromatic and light smoke of e-cigarettes and HNB tobacco products are not easy to identify. Children may be exposed to these potential second-hand and toxic smokes for longer hours. (The claim from "Public Health England" that e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than traditional tobacco products is questionable 2, 3) 4. Why Not Banning Traditional Tobacco Products but E-Cigarettes? Think about it: if traditional tobacco products was ever existed in Hong Kong, and is proposed to be imported to Hong Kong now. Based on our medical knowledge nowadays, our responsible Government would definitely object. However, the story was happened in over a hundred years ago while there was not enough evidences on the harms of cigarettes. With the current 10% smoker population in Hong Kong, it is difficult for the Government to total ban such products. Learn from the history, while e-cigarette smoking is not yet a morale, we should stand firm by not allowing the import of e-cigarettes to Hong Kong in affecting our generations of youngsters. References: 1. Beard E, Brown J, Michie S, et al. Is prevalence of e-cigarette and nicotine replacement therapy use among smokers associated with average cigarette consumption in England? A time-series analysis. BMJ Open 2018;

8:e016046. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016046 2. E-cigarettes: Public Health England's evidence-based confusion, Editorial;