The US outbreak of lung disease, linked to e-cigarettes and illegal THC juices, has not spread beyond the North American continent. And British health scientists are sticking to their advice to regular e-cigarette users: not to worry about getting sick.
"What is happening in the US is not happening here in the UK or in other countries where vejpning is well established. It is clear that this is a localised problem."
It says John Britton, Professor and Director at UK centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies in Nottingham to the Financial Post newspaper.
Over 3.6 million Britons now use e-cigarettes regularly. The Public Health Agency of the United Kingdom was quick to comment on the causes of lung disease in the US: E-juice containing THC and the substance e-acetate. It was never about regular e-liquids or e-cigarettes. And that was clear from the beginning, according to the UK health authority.
"These substances, mainly oils, are prohibited for use in vejping in the UK. At the same time, we have stricter legislation on e-cigarettes and e-juice throughout Europe compared to the US. This includes the marketing of these products, which cannot be aimed at young people. And we regulate it carefully," says Ann McNeill, Professor of Tobacco and Drug Addiction at the Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience at King's College London, to Financial Post.
Smokers get the wrong message
Both John Britton and Ann McNeill finds that the number of smokers in the UK is declining at a faster rate than in the US. One of the reasons for this is the vejp, they say.
"It would be very unfortunate if smokers refrain from using e-cigarettes because of what is happening in the US" says John Britton.
He is also concerned about the bans on e-cigarettes that are being implemented in India and some US states. "They are inappropriate from a public health perspective and send the wrong message to smokers.
"Smokers get the message that vejpning is dangerous and not, as research shows, 95 per cent less harmful than cigarettes. And it's really a no-brainer. If someone continues to smoke, they lose one day of life for every four days they smoke. Banning an alternative like e-cigarettes means more people die from smoking." says John Britton to the Financial Post.
