Serious accusations by the WHO against the tobacco industry over e-cigarettes
Published: Thursday, Dec 14th 2023, 15:20
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The World Health Organization (WHO) accuses the tobacco industry of deliberately misinforming and deliberately recruiting children when marketing e-cigarettes. The industry "finances and disseminates false evidence to argue that these products reduce harm", criticized the UN agency in Geneva on Thursday.
The WHO has called for stricter regulations for such products. E-cigarettes are advertised by tobacco companies as nicotine products that can reduce health risks compared to conventional cigarettes.
The WHO pointed out that the use of electric nicotine vaporizers also produces toxic substances that can cause cancer and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, unborn children could be harmed in the womb and the mental development of underage consumers could be impaired, it said.
No suitable alternative
In the view of the WHO, e-cigarettes are not a suitable alternative to reduce the consumption of tobacco, but rather increase the likelihood of turning to conventional cigarettes due to their addictive effect. "Children are being recruited to use e-cigarettes at a young age and lured into a trap," warned WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The WHO called on countries to make e-cigarettes less attractive by banning flavors, reducing the nicotine content and levying taxes on these products.
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