YPAP urges govt to ban import, use of vape/electronic cigarettes

According to Business Recorder, the Young Pharmacists Association of Pakistan (YPAP) has called on the government to halt the import, sale and use of vape and electronic cigarettes without delay. The group made the appeal in a written letter to the Prime Minister and the Health Minister, warning that such products pose serious risks to young Pakistanis. The association says the devices are widely brought in and sold nationwide, and that their use is spreading beyond youngsters to every age group.

YPAP cited chemical findings to support its case. It says the aerosol could contain formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein, while the products themselves contain ethylene glycol and heavy metals. It also referred to a Johns Hopkins University study of vape clouds from well-known brands including Juul and Vuse, which found nearly 2,000 chemicals, most of them unidentified.

The group says e-cigarettes were originally meant to help smokers cut back on tobacco, but they are increasingly misused by students and young people. The health effects of inhaled ingredients are not fully established, although several recent studies tie e-cigarette components to lung injury, cancers, and heart and respiratory diseases. Battery voltage and puffing rate affect how many chemicals are produced. Newer, hotter models could subject users to larger amounts of carcinogens.