ISLAMABAD: As e-cigarettes or ‘vapes’ continue to gain popularity in Pakistan, especially among the youth, a letter sent to the caretaker prime minister by the Pakistan Young Pharmacist Association sought government intervention to gauge the toxicity of these products and an immediate ban on them in case carcinogens were found in them.

In a letter to the caretaker premier, the association asked him to take notice of the use of highly toxic ethylene glycol and heavy metals in electronic cigarettes. The letter stated that e-cigarettes were a relatively new phenomenon, initially introduced to help smokers reduce their tobacco intake, but the devices have become increasingly popular among the youth.

“The main ingredients are nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerol, ethylene glycol, Vitamin E, flavourings, and heavy metals, each with potentially harmful effects on human health. E-cigarette aerosol could also contain toxic compounds such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein due to glycerin’s thermo-degradation. Despite the limited knowledge of vaping’s health effects, recent studies have linked e-cigarette ingredients to some health problems such as lung injury, cancers, heart and respiratory diseases,” it stated.

“...the electronic cigarettes not only contain ethylene glycol, heavy metals but also formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein. These e-cigarettes are…becoming a fashion not only among youngsters but also in all age groups in Pakistan. Johns Hopkins University analysed the vape clouds of popular brands such as Juul and Vuse, and found nearly 2,000 chemicals, the vast majority of which are unidentified,” it stated.

Association seeks ‘immediate ban’ if toxic chemicals are found in these products

“The aerosol of e-cigarettes is generated when the e-liquid comes in contact with a coil heated to a temperature of roughly 100–250 degrees Celsius (212–482 °F) within a chamber, which is thought to cause pyrolysis of the e-liquid and could also lead to decomposition of other liquid ingredients,” the letter stated.

The letter sought the test analysis of liquid in e-cigarettes and new chemicals formed during the inhaling and called for an immediate ban if carcinogenic and toxic chemicals were found in the test.

Meanwhile, Coalition for Tobacco Control Pakistan (CTC-Pak) Project Coordinator Zeeshan Danish, stated that the decision to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to minors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a critical step in commitment to public health. “We believe that this initiative should catalyse a broader, nationwide ban to address the increasing threat posed by e-cigarettes to the younger generation.”

It is worth mentioning that last month Pakistan faced an embarrassing situation as Maldives informed about contamination in Pakistani medicines and the substance, ethylene glycol, found in syrups was being used in hydraulic brake fluids, stamp pad inks, paints, plastics and cosmetics.

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan sealed a factory and directed another company to recall syrups.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2024