That’s according to National Council Against Smoking who held a round table earlier this month with University of Cape Town, the University of the Western Cape and the Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa. It discussed the latest evidence around e-cigarettes.
In a statement, they said new evidence has strengthened calls for the new devices to be regulated just as conventional cigarettes are regulated.
E-cigarettes or electronic cigarettes are battery-operated devices that emit doses of vaporised nicotine, or non-nicotine solutions for the users to inhale.
Speaking at a scientific evidence sharing round table, a panel of researchers, doctors and professors explained why they believed the current promotion of e-cigarettes by tobacco manufacturers was ‘dangerous and problematic in South Africa’.
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“About 20 per cent or about 8 million South Africans over the age of 15 smoke. Studies done on the use of e-cigarettes in South Africa suggest that about 300 000 people use these devices,” the Council statement read.
What’s more they said currently e-cigarettes are not regulated in South Africa. As a result, e-cigarettes can be used in both indoor and outdoor public spaces freely.
They added that findings from peer-reviewed journals show that e-cigarettes carry their own health risks.
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