The World Health Organization emphasizes the need for urgent introduction of restrictive measures to control electronic cigarettes, in particular for the protection of children and non -smoking and minimizing the harmful effects on the health of citizens. The WHO statement was published by the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
The WHO statement states that the electronic cigarettes used by consumers did not show their effectiveness in facilitating tobacco refusal to the population. At the same time, there are alarming signals about the negative effects of their health.
Experts point out that e -cigarettes are freely sold and actively advertised among young people. According to WHO, 34 countries are prohibited in 34 countries, 88 countries do not set a minimum age for their purchase, and in 74 countries there are no regulatory restrictions at all. WHO CEO Tedros Adhan Gabreesus calls for countries to take rigid measures to prevent the spread of e -cigarettes, especially among children and young people.
The WHO statement emphasizes that e -cigarettes with nicotine cause strong dependence and harm health. Their long-term consequences have not been sufficiently studied, but they are known to contain toxic substances that can lead to cancer and increase the risk of cardiovascular and lung diseases. Smoking electronic cigarettes can adversely affect brain development and cause learning problems, and pregnant women can lead to negative effects for the development of the fetus.
It is noted that e -cigarettes are widespread among children and adolescents in all WHO regions. In recent years, the use of e -cigarettes among young people in different countries, which is an alarming phenomenon, has been increased. The organization urges countries to take decisive measures to limit the spread of e -cigarettes and the fight against nicotine addiction, in particular by introducing prohibitions on fragrances, restrictions on the quality of nicotine and appropriate taxes. The organization also is concerned that tobacco companies finance inaccurate research on the safety of electronic cigarettes and actively promote them among young people and non -smoking.
