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Disposable Flavored Vaping Products Overlooked by Recent Federal Ban

March 5, 2020 Lisa Feierstein Breathe EZ, Children's Health Leave a comment   , , ,

Public health professionals, healthcare providers, and parents around the country were overjoyed when the Federal government banned flavored vaping products in February of this year. One of the most popular brands, Juul, had already pulled its flavored pods off the market in October 2019.

With the recent rapid increase in teen vaping, the new ban provided another pathway to limit their access to nicotine and its negative health effects.

Loophole in Federal Ban of Flavored Vaping Liquids

As it turns out flavored vaping products are still for sale – in disposable versions which are not excluded by the recent ban. These disposable products are designed for one time use and are available in many kid-friendly flavors.

Brands such as Puff Bar, blu, and Posh all sell disposable products for teens craving a vaping fix – with flavors like pink lemonade, mighty mint and mango bomb.

These new disposable vaping products are inexpensive and widely available.

Teen Vaping Statistics

The 2019 Youth Tobacco Survey revealed that 25% of HS students have vaped in the last 30 days. This is up from 21% the previous year, and double the rate in 2016.

Sweet and fruity flavors in vaping liquids cut the harshness of the tobacco. Researchers conclude that this will lead to users inhaling more deeply and in the process absorbing even higher amounts of nicotine versus a normal cigarette.

Advice for Parents

Lead with information not accusations.  If you suspect your teen is vaping or might have friends who are, start with the facts and your concerns versus putting them on the spot with a direct question like, “Are you vaping?”

Do your research. Check out some of the links below and learn about what products are popular, what they look like, and how they can be purchased.

Ask for help and support efforts to quit. Help and support your teen if they want to quit. Seek out online resources like the North Carolina Quit Line or the Truth Initiative.

Additional Resources

The North Carolina Quit Line – E-Cigarette Users
The Truth Initiative – Inspiring Tobacco Free Lives
The Vape Talk – Resources for Parents on Vaping
Parents Against Vaping – Parent ToolKit
It’s Not Just Water Vapor – Risk of Secondhand Vapor Exposure
E-Cigarettes: Continued Health Thread for Youth


It’s Not Just Water Vapor: Risk of Secondhand Vapor Exposure

June 6, 2019 Lisa Feierstein Asthma, Breathe EZ, Children's Health Leave a comment   , , , ,

It is hard to imagine that many people still believe that the vapor produced by e-cigarettes is harmless. They believe that the sweet smelling cloud produced by someone vaping nearby is just water vapor. The secondhand vapor from e-cigarettes actually contains many of the same chemicals that are found in traditional ones. These contaminants include propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, nicotine and many different flavoring agents.

E-Cigarettes: Continued Health Threat for YouthNo one should be inhaling any of these toxic substances because they will all cause inflammation in your lungs. Asthma sufferers and those with allergies are especially at risk of exposure to lung irritants. Studies by the National Academies of Science indicate that e-cigarette use increases asthma symptoms such as coughing and wheezing.

The good news is that e-cigarettes are different from traditional cigarettes in one way, they only emit vapor when they are being used. 

New Research Based on the Florida Youth Tobacco Survey

The Florida Youth Tobacco Survey data (link to data) was the basis for some recent research to determine the connection between electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and asthma symptoms. The survey data indicates that e-cigarette use was up almost 600% from 2012 to 2018 in youth ages 11-17. The rate of youth trying e-cigarettes is also up over 350% in the same date range.

Survey Data Demographics:

  • Study based on surveys from almost 50,000 youth and teens.
  • 33,500 respondents were in High School and another 36,000 were in Middle School.
  • Respondents were evenly split by gender.
  • One-third identified as Hispanic, one-third are white, and one-fifth as African American.
  • About 75% of survey participants lived in large or mid-sized metro areas.
  • The research focused on the 11,000 respondents diagnosed with asthma.

 

Study Definition of Exposure to secondhand vaping aerosol:  Exposure to someone vaping either in the same room or in a car within the last month.

Secondhand vaping exposure increased the likelihood of an asthma attack by 27%, regardless of whether the children themselves smoked or vaped.

Tips for Parents

Juul e-cigaretteThe statistics on the rates of vaping are staggering. In 2018 the CDC reported that 20% of high school students vaped in the past 30 days. Smoking rates in the same age group are actually lower at only 8 percent. The rate of teen smoking continues to fall; it is 50% lower than it was in 2011.

The national rate of smoking in adults is 14% (2017), down from 20% in 2005. In contrast only 2.8% of adults use e-cigarettes.

Nicotine is toxic to children, even at minimal exposure levels. Their developing bodies are even more susceptible to environmental pollutants like nicotine and the other dangerous components of e-cigarette vapor.

  • Encourage your children to avoid secondhand vaping aerosols just like secondhand smoke from traditional cigarettes.
  • Educate family members and friends who vape to do so away from children and especially not in enclosed spaces.
  • Communicate with your children about the dangers of smoking and vaping so they know the risks.

 

If your child has asthma, consider adding limiting exposure to vaping in your child’s asthma action plan – due to the possibility of it triggering an asthma attack.

Additional Resources


E-Cigarettes: Continued Health Threat for Youth

August 9, 2018 Lisa Feierstein Breathe EZ, Children's Health Leave a comment   , , ,

Juul e-cigarette

Kids are now facing a new threat that is taking over high schools and middle schools across the United States – a new type of E-cigarette called Juul. Many parents may lack information on how E-cigarettes are spreading throughout their children’s schools and in their own neighborhoods.

Some teens and young adults find the E-cigarette Juul attractive because of its sleek design. The device can be easily charged on a laptop and go unnoticed by parents and teachers. Teens are drawn to Juul for a number of reasons, like its trendy decal skins, and the multiple flavors.

Studies have shown that most teens and young adults do not know that they are smoking nicotine, they think they are smoking water vapor when they are using Juul. Since nicotine is the prime ingredient in these devices, parents and school administrators are concerned.

Not only can nicotine be extremely addictive but it can be very harmful to teens and young adults in many ways such as:

  • Memory loss and attention loss for a developing teenage brain
  • Also increased risk for future addiction to other drug

Schools Educate about the Dangers of Juul E-Cigarettes

Parents and school administrators should worry about the long term effects of students using Juul or any other E-cigarettes.

Schools are trying their best to prevent usage of E-cigarettes on school grounds. Some schools have even installed detectors that scan the air for chemical changes and alert an administrator. Schools are also holding classes to review the dangers of using Juul with their students. They are also holding workshops to educate teachers and support staff on what a Juul is and how it works.

For more information about E-Cigarettes, the Juul device and the effects of using it check out the website www.tobaccofreekids.org

Additional Resources:

The Double Threat of Vaping

More information on E-Cigarette usage among youth from the Surgeon General

Image of Juul e-cigarette: By Mylesclark96 [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons


The Double Threat of Vaping

June 8, 2017 Lisa Feierstein Asthma, Breathe EZ, Children's Health, Men's Health, Women's Health Leave a comment   , , ,

Juul e-cigaretteFood industry workers at a microwave popcorn factory were the first to get sick from inhaling the vapors from artificial flavorings. The vapors caused symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, similar to those of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Popcorn: Tasty Snack; Popcorn Lung: Deadly Disease

Dubbed popcorn lung, this condition (bronchiolitis obliterans) is a serious and irreversible lung disease. The culprit is the chemical diacetyl. When inhaled, it scars the tiny air sacs in the lungs resulting in the thickening and narrowing of one’s airways.

While many major popcorn manufacturers have removed this chemical from their manufacturing process, it still poses a threat. Diacetyl is also an ingredient in the flavorings for e-cigarettes. A Harvard study found that 39 of 51 e-cigarette brands contained the offending ingredient.

With flavors like ‘Cinnatoast Munch,’ ‘Cotton Candy,’ and ‘Kiwi Watermelon,’ teens are drawn to vaping. Not only do teens think vaping looks cool; they justify their new habit by saying it is better than smoking. Some e-cigarette ‘juices’ do not contain nicotine, but there is still a danger from the artificial flavorings.

As we discussed in our March blog vaping is often a method people choose for quitting tobacco, but can be very harmful to asthmatics. Vaping is not safe. Why put yourself at risk to develop ‘popcorn lung’? Don’t forget about the many other chemicals in e-cigarette vapor, like formaldehyde.

If you are a current smoker who desires to quit, there are better and healthier ways to accomplish this. A lot of people have trouble quitting because of an oral fixation. Below are some ideas to use as a substitute for smoking or vaping.

• Chew gum (some even contain nicotine) or eat hard candies.
• Get more exercise as this can reduce stress – which may lead smokers to crave a cigarette.
• Consider the nicotine patch which can curb your urge to smoke or vape.

The American Lung Association has many resources to help you quit smoking – or vaping.

Final Notes

Diacetyl has since been removed from the following brands of microwave popcorn: Orville Redenbacher, Act II, Pop Secret, and Jolly Time. So, don’t worry. Your favorite snack is safe now.

The FDA is closely monitoring this market and has begun to apply and enforce key provisions of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. This 2009 law gives the FDA authority to regulate the tobacco market and minimize the negative impacts of smoking on America’s youth and families.

Resources

2016 Surgeon General Report detailing the use of e-cigarettes among youth and young adults.

Quitline NC:  1-800-QUIT-NOW or En Espanol at 1-855-Dejelo-Ya


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