Five Reasons to Include E-cigarettes in Smoke-free Laws

E-cigs pollute the air.^2,3

• E-cigs give off tiny particles that can lodge in the lungs and cause disease.2
• E-cig particles can reach concentrations almost as high as in Lexington before the smoke-free law.2
• Visible aerosol from e-smoking contains harmful chemicals known to cause cancer.4
• Workers and patrons are exposed to secondhand aerosol from e-cigarettes used inside.

E-cigs give off aerosol, not water vapor, including:

• Propylene glycol (lung and eye irritant)⁵
• Formaldehyde 2,5  and β-nicotyrine (cause cancer)⁶
• Metal & silicate particles (toxic to human cells)³
• Nicotine (addictive and harmful to unborn babies)^5,6

E-cigs undermine smoke-free laws by making enforcement confusing.^7,8

• Customers may not patronize the business, thinking regular smoking is allowed.
• Employees may not know who is violating the law.

No current regulations on manufacture = no consumer protection.⁹

• No way to know what users are breathing in or putting into the air for others to breathe.
• No protection from dangerous design flaws.

Early research shows lung effects similar to smoking.

• Five minutes of e-cigarette use has lung effects similar to tobacco smoke.¹⁰
• Airways become inflamed after using e-cigarettes containing nicotine.²

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1. Flouris AD, Oikonomou DN. Electronic cigarettes: miracle or menace? BMJ. 2010;340:c311.
2. Schober W, Szendrei K, Matzen W, et al. Use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) impairs indoor air quality and increases FeNO levels of e-cigarette consumers. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 2013.
3. Williams M, Villarreal A, Bozhilov K, Lin S, Talbot P. Metal and silicate particles including nanoparticles are present in electronic cigarette cartomizer fluid and aerosol. PloS one. 2013;8(3):e57987.
4. Offermann F. The Hazards of E-Cigarettes. ASHRAE JOURNAL. 2014;56(6):38-44.
5. Laugesen M. Safety Report on the Ruyan® e-cigarette Cartridge and Inhaled Aerosol. Christchurch: Health New Zealand Ltd.; October 30, 2008.
6. Westenberger BJ. Evaluation of e-cigarettes. St. Louis, MO: Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis; May 4 2009, May 4.
7. World Health Organization. Regulatory scope. Tobacco product regulation. Electronic nicotine delivery systems. Drug Information. 2010;24(1):30-32.
8. World Health Organization. Electronic nicotine delivery systems. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; July 21 2014.
9. Trtchounian A, Talbot P. Electronic nicotine delivery systems: is there a need for regulation? Tob Control. 2011;20(1):47-52.
10. Vardavas CI, Anagnostopoulos N, Kougias M, Evangelopoulou V, Connolly GN, Behrakis PK. Acute pulmonary effects of using an e-cigarette: impact on respiratory flow resistance, impedance and exhaled nitric oxide. Chest. Dec 22 2011.