Assoc. Prof. from Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Chest Diseases. Dr. Pelin Duru Çetinkaya noted that although cigarette use seems to be decreasing among young people, this “transition to new generation tobacco products” has actually changed shape; and due to the “harmless” perception created by the industry, the age of starting to use these products has decreased to 10-11.
At the 27th Annual Congress of the Turkish Thoracic Association, held in Antalya last week, “Big Threat in Adolescents!” European Respiratory Society Scientific Committee Member and Pediatric Chest Diseases Specialist from the National Heart Lung Institute, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, England, Prof. Dr. Andrew Bush, who came to Turkey to attend the session titled “New Generation Tobacco Products”, and Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pulmonary Diseases. Assoc. drew attention to the dangers. Prof. Dr. Bush noted that e-cigarette poisoning has been encountered in even 2-3 year old babies as a result of drinking e-cigarette liquids at home. During the scientific session, it was also pointed out that the industry now offers some products containing cannabis for sale in the form of “inhaler used by asthmatic patients”.
IT CAN EVEN CAUSE HOME ACCIDENTS
Explaining that e-cigarettes are not as innocent as thought, Prof. Dr. Bush emphasized that because of these devices, tobacco use has decreased to 10-11 years of age. Prof. Dr. One of the most striking data in Bush’s presentation was that, according to research, e-cigarettes cause changes in more than 1,200 genes. Prof. Dr. Bush pointed out that the fact that the age of tobacco use has fallen so much raises the concern that the age of lung cancer will be much earlier in the future. Prof. Dr. Bush explained with examples that these products can cause accidents such as explosions and burning, which can lead to serious injuries.
“WE HAVE WITNESSED 10 YEAR OLD CHILDREN USING IT”
Assoc. Dr. Pelin Duru Çetinkaya explained that she has witnessed people using electronic cigarettes since the age of 10 in our country and said, “According to a study conducted under the age of 16, 4.5-5 percent of children use electronic cigarettes and products regularly, while 20 percent use electronic cigarettes and products occasionally. Unfortunately, before our children, parents, educators and healthcare professionals do not know the danger. Studies have shown that almost one-third of these products contain Cannabis. There are a lot of carcinogenic substances. Even if a child does not use an electronic cigarette, he or she may experience toxic poisoning by drinking its liquids. “We had cases of poisoning like this at the age of 6,” he said.
“70 PERCENT OF USERS DRINK IT AT HOME”
Assoc. Prof. points out that parents use these products even in front of their children, with the perception that they are not harmful and can be used anywhere. Dr. Çetinkaya continued his words as follows: “Again, in a study conducted in our country, we saw that 70 percent of them use these products at home and 40 percent at work. Call it steam all you want, these produce smoke too. There are also situations that our educators fail to realize. The child keeps them in the palm of his hand in the form of a flash memory at school and breathes them in. But when it releases smoke into the environment, there is no bad smell like in cigarettes.
Because it has flavors in it, like strawberry and fruit flavors. Teachers also do not realize that this is actually a tobacco product. While parents question everything when they need to use a medication, they do not object to their children using it without questioning it unconditionally. Even pregnant women can use it. In a multi-center study conducted in our country, it was revealed that e-cigarette use in pregnant women was around 5 percent 5 years ago. I’m sure this rate is higher now.”
“5-6 CHILDREN USE THE SAME MOUTH”
Assoc. Prof. emphasized that he has two children in middle school and high school and that these products are widely used in both of their schools. Dr. Çetinkaya concluded his words as follows: “There are also disposable products called Puff Bars. One child buys it, 5-6 children use the same product with the same mouthpiece. It paves the way for infectious diseases, from poisoning to lung, cardiovascular system and cancer. In smoking cessation clinics, only one in five physicians receives inquiries from patients about electronic cigarettes and new generation tobacco products. Our colleagues do not know this either. For example, in the case of pneumothorax, that is, lung collapse, which we have heard very frequently in pediatric patients lately, it should be questioned whether the underlying cause may be electronic cigarette products. “These products cause a disease called Evali, and air cysts and pneumothorax can be seen in the lungs.”
“EVEN PASSIVE EXPOSURE IS HARMFUL”
Prof. Dr. Andrew Bush explained that even the harms of passive exposure to these products have been shown and said, “When we look at the research, it shows that people living in a house where family members consume e-cigarettes have more respiratory symptoms, even if they do not use them themselves. Pediatricians know the dangers of these products a little better. But since adult physicians focus more on the harms of smoking, they want to direct their patients to something less harmful. But we don’t have any evidence that e-cigarettes are less harmful. In fact, I wonder if it could be more harmful, there is now evidence about this. Therefore, inhaling these ‘hot chemicals’ into our lungs is not safe and dangerous at all. When you smoke during adolescence, the risk of developing lung cancer in adulthood increases many times. There is no guarantee that my e-cigarettes will not pose such a risk in the future. We may see cancer incidence in a much younger population in the future. This really worries me. It is very worrying that e-cigarettes have been used since adolescence. “Serious measures should be taken to consume these products without waiting for a disaster to occur,” he said.
“UNITED KINGDOM TAKES TURKEY AS AN EXAMPLE”
Pointing out that these products are freely available for sale in the UK and many European countries and that there are private stores, Prof. Dr. Bush also emphasized that the ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes in Turkey is an important advantage and success. However, Bush stated that bans only on paper would not be effective, and noted that serious sanctions, up to prison terms, should be imposed on those who sell these products, especially to children. Prof. Dr. Bush concluded his words as follows: “The United Kingdom takes Turkey as an example in this regard. Actually, there is legislation in Turkey to ban the sale of these products. We should have banned this too, you are playing with fire and it is a dangerous game.
However, of course there will be pressure from the industry, they will defend it as safe so that their sales can become free in Turkey. We need to protect our children from this. In fact, very serious sanctions need to be applied. There should be serious sanctions, from closing down the business selling these products to imprisonment. More importantly, they need to know that it will not go unpunished. That’s why the inspection needs to be done very well. Otherwise, even if you have a regulation, if it has no equivalent in practice, no one cares.” (DHA)
