Government needs to be more aware of health hazards
There are growing calls warning against the harm caused by electronic cigarettes. The U.S. government has announced plans to ban the sales of flavored e-cigarettes. Walmart, the largest retailer in the United States, has also decided to stop selling vaping products.
These are because they are suspected of causing severe lung diseases. Considering the harmful effects e-cigarettes could have on the health of teenagers, it is time for Korea to raise awareness about the risks of vaping, and liquid-based products in particular. According to the U.S. health authorities, there were 530 confirmed cases of severe lung disease and eight deaths in America related to the use of e-cigarette liquid cartridges, as of last Friday.
E-cigarettes are becoming increasingly popular in Korea, too, requiring urgent countermeasures. The market share of devices that heat tobacco stood at a mere 0.2 percent when they were launched here two years ago but surged to 11.5 percent in the second quarter of this year. Vaping also saw its market share jump from 0.8 percent in May to 1.3 percent the following month.
This notwithstanding, the government is moving too slowly. All the Ministry of Health and Welfare did was recommend smokers refrain from using e-cigarettes. The ministry should hasten to complete its research into the health risks of e-cigarettes and vaping and come up with proper measures. The nation also needs a law that can swiftly ban the sales of certain products for being "public health risks," as in the U.S.
Local tobacco distributors allege Korea is free from severe health hazards. That should be no reason for the health authorities to remain complacent, however. Instead, the government should raise taxes on the new devices, which are taxed at less than half the rate of traditionally lit cigarettes.
Contrary to the local industry's allegation about relatively lesser harm, research after research has proved their potentially greater health hazards because of flavoring components. Regardless of the government steps, consumers ― especially teenagers, pregnant women and people with respiratory problems ― must not use e-cigarettes.
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