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May 03, 2024 by city-journal.org

Medscape, a popular medical platform, offers educational videos for doctors to obtain license renewal credits. A controversy arose when tobacco harm reduction videos funded by Philip Morris International were removed due to protests. Despite factual presentations on reduced-risk products like e-cigarettes, opposition persists against industry-funded research. Efforts to suppress tobacco alternatives hinder medical knowledge and innovation. The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World faced backlash for its ties to the tobacco industry but later distanced itself. Critics argue against canceling research collaborations, emphasizing the importance of transparent scientific inquiry for public health benefits.

May 02, 2024 by filtermag.org

Virginia has enacted a one-year delayed ban on flavored vapes, aligning with other states imposing PMTA registry bills to regulate the vaping industry. Advocates argue the bills protect consumers, while critics say they restrict choices and harm small businesses vital for tobacco harm reduction. The FDA's PMTA process faces backlash for favoring big tobacco companies and hindering safer vape alternatives. Altria supports the legislation, emphasizing the need to combat illegal vape sales. Governor Youngkin approved Virginia's bill with a delay, facing opposition due to potential economic losses and job cuts.

May 02, 2024 by thehill.com

Vaping by young people led to increased risk of lead and uranium exposure, according to a new study.  “Vaping in early life could increase the risk of exposure to metals, potentially harming brain and organ development,” the study reads. “Regulations on vaping should safeguard the youth population against addiction and exposure to metals.” “Dual use of tobacco products is a health concern because it may result in greater exposure to toxins and worse respiratory outcomes than using either product alone,” the study reads.

May 01, 2024 by cuanschutz.edu

E-cigarettes show promise for aiding smoking cessation, particularly in emergency department settings, according to a recent commentary co-authored by Gina Kruse, MD. The commentary questions the public health impact of e-cigarettes, emphasizing the need for more research on their long-term use and effects on adolescents. Differences in e-cigarette regulations between the U.K. and the U.S. could impact the applicability of research findings. Access to evidence-based cessation treatments alongside e-cigarettes warrants further investigation. Kruse highlights the challenge of balancing adults' cessation needs with preventing youth access to e-cigarettes, emphasizing the importance of informed policies and practices regarding these devices.

May 01, 2024 by news-medical.net

A study in the Journal of Clinical Medicine links E-cigarette use to unintended and intended ocular surface exposures. The research highlights the increasing global use of E-cigarettes and their potential harm on eye components. An analysis of 18 studies reveals consequences such as corneal injury, tear film disruption, and dry eye symptoms. Chronic exposure may lead to ocular malignancies and alterations in tear production and meibomian gland loss. The study emphasizes the critical need for further research on the long-term effects of E-cigarette use on ocular health.

April 30, 2024 by medium.com

The World Health Organization has 8,000 employees, a budget of close to $4bn dollars, considerable influence and ambitious goals. Expanding access to medical care. Managing global health emergencies. Addressing the root causes of disease. Even combatting misinformation online. To the latter, one is tempted to respond, “Physician, heal thyself.” That’s because, when it comes to one of the most important public health questions of our time — how best to reduce the death and disease caused by smoking tobacco — the WHO is not merely failing to curb misinformation. It is misleading governments, health care workers and the public.

April 30, 2024 by independent.ie

Teenage girls in the UK are found to engage in more drinking, smoking, and vaping than boys. A recent study suggests that frequent vaping among teens could increase exposure to harmful metals like lead and uranium, affecting brain and organ development. Researchers emphasize the importance of regulating and preventing teen vaping. The study, involving 1607 teens, reveals higher levels of lead and uranium in the urine of frequent vapers compared to occasional vapers. Sweet flavors were associated with increased uranium levels. While the study lacks definitive conclusions, it highlights the need for further research, regulation, and public health interventions to reduce the risks of e-cigarette use, especially among adolescents.

April 30, 2024 by newsweek.com

Does vaping put teenagers at risk of toxic heavy metal exposure? New research says maybe. Vaping is popular among teens, with the Food and Drug Administration reporting that roughly 1 in 7 American high school students were using e-cigarettes as of 2022. This equates to 2.14 million young people nationwide. "E-cigarettes have been the most commonly used tobacco products among U.S. adolescents since 2014, and youth e-cigarette use continues to be a public health concern," Daisy Dai, a professor of biostatistics and associate dean of research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, told Newsweek.

April 30, 2024 by newsweek.com

Does vaping put teenagers at risk of toxic heavy metal exposure? New research says maybe. Vaping is popular among teens, with the Food and Drug Administration reporting that roughly 1 in 7 American high school students were using e-cigarettes as of 2022. This equates to 2.14 million young people nationwide. "E-cigarettes have been the most commonly used tobacco products among U.S. adolescents since 2014, and youth e-cigarette use continues to be a public health concern," Daisy Dai, a professor of biostatistics and associate dean of research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, told Newsweek.

April 30, 2024 by cnn.com

Vaping among teens has declined slightly, but a new study shows a link between vaping and higher levels of lead and uranium in urine, potentially affecting brain and organ development. While sweet flavors attract teens to e-cigarettes, they are associated with increased uranium exposure. The study, based on 200 teens, reinforces the risks of vaping, with lead detected in e-cigarette aerosol. It emphasizes that no level of lead exposure is safe and urges parents to advise against vaping. More research is needed on heavy metal exposure and the impact on health. Personalized quit plans and therapy can help individuals, including teens, quit vaping successfully.