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Nandita Das Joins ‘Mothers Against Vaping’ Campaign

Citing recent research published in the journal, Tobacco Control, Mothers Against Vaping highlighted the findings linking vaping to raised levels of uranium and lead exposure. The study examined urine samples from vapers to detect the presence of uranium, cadmium and lead…reports Asian Lite News

‘Mothers Against Vaping’, a united front of concerned mothers combatting the promotion of New-Age Tobacco Devices such as e-cigarettes, vapes, electronic nicotine delivery systems, heat-not-burn products, e-hookahs and similar devices among Indian children and youth, on Friday announced that Nandita Das, actor-filmmaker and National Film Award winner, would be supporting and endorsing their critical cause.

Nandita Das joins a distinguished group of influential role models including Baichung Bhutia, Deepa Malik, Dutee Chand, Neha Dhupia, Kushboo Sundar and Kishwar Desai who have been supporting Mothers Against Vaping in their campaign against the growing threat of vaping among children and youth.

Nandita’s endorsement will be important in combating children and youth vaping. Her influence will amplify Mothers Against Vaping’s efforts, highlighting the urgency of addressing this health crisis and implementing protective measures against the use of new-age tobacco devices.

On her joining the cause of Mothers Against Vaping, Nandita Das said, “The increasing prevalence of modern new-age tobacco devices among our children and youth should be of deep concern to all of us. As a mother of a teenager, I worry for all children and hope that they don’t fall prey to such harmful addictions. The issue demands our immediate personal and collective attention. That’s why I am wholeheartedly supporting ‘Mothers Against Vaping’ in their efforts to combat the promotion of devices such as e-cigarettes, vapes and heat-not-burn products.”

“Today’s children are intelligent and exposed to a lot of information. They are also vocal and rational. So we need to explain to them logically the dangers of such devices that may look attractive or ‘cool’. They can see reason if we engage with them constructively and compassionately. It is difficult to shun peer pressure at their age, so we must find ways to boost their confidence and equip them to make informed choices. Let us support them in making healthy decisions,” Nandita added.

On the occasion of Nandita joining their mission, Mothers Against Vaping highlighted a new danger for children and teens who vape. These children now face heightened risks of exposure to uranium and lead. This kind of exposure to New-Age Tobacco Devices like Electronic Cigarettes, Vaping Devices and other Heat Not Burn Devices can harm the brain and affect its development in children and teens.

The research also reported increased uranium levels found in vapers who used sweet-flavoured categories. The report found 90 per cent higher uranium levels among vapers who preferred sweet flavours such as fruit, chocolate or desserts.

There is mounting evidence that strongly suggests the detrimental impact of the use of new-age tobacco devices among both children and adults. Unlike traditional cigarettes, which are typically smoked in a few minutes, these devices allow for extended usage sessions. The ultrafine particles and chemicals found in the e-liquids of these devices pose risks of chemical poisoning to users.

E-Cigarettes Help More Smokers Quit

There has been an increase in the number of people switching to electronic cigarettes while quitting regular tobacco smoking, claims a study.

Previously, using electronic cigarettes did not lead to smoking cessation.

The new study led by a team from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in New York, US, examined differences in real-world trends in population-level cigarette discontinuation rates from 2013 to 2021 in American adults.

Their findings, published in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research, found that quit rates changed between 2018 and 2021 than earlier years.

During this period, 30.9 per cent of adult smokers who used e-cigarettes quit tobacco cigarettes. On the other hand, only 20 per cent of smokers who did not use e-cigarettes quit smoking.

In contrast, between 2013 and 2016, smoking rates were statistically indistinguishable between people who used e-cigarettes (15.5 per cent) and those who did not (15.6 per cent).

“Our findings here suggest that the times have changed when it comes to vaping and smoking cessation for adults in the US,” said first author Karin Kasza, Assistant Professor of oncology in the Department of Health Behaviour at Roswell Park.

“While our study doesn’t give the answers as to why vaping is associated with cigarette quitting in the population today when it wasn’t associated with quitting years ago, design changes leading to e-cigarettes that deliver nicotine more effectively should be investigated. This work underscores the importance of using the most recent data to inform public health decisions,” Kasza added.

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Mothers Rally Against Youth Vaping Epidemic

Mothers Against Vaping, a united front of concerned mothers combatting the escalating vaping crisis among our youth, today, strongly raised the issue about e-Cigarettes and other new age gateway products which include Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), heat-not-burn (HNB), e-hookah and much more. It stressed on the urgent need to understand that through these products the International Tobacco companies are purposefully targeting little children, teens and the youth with the immoral intention of luring them into using new-age gateway devices and securing them as lifelong customers. This predatory targeting of children has also been highlighted by experts globally, and most recently it was raised in discussions in the Scottish Parliament.

Members of the Scottish Parliament have been informed by an Australian Expert Epidemiologist that Vaping or E-Cigarettes predisposes children to smoking cigarettes later in life. Epidemiologist Professor Emily Banks underscored to the Members of the Scottish Parliament or MSPs the concerning and immoral intentions of vaping and tobacco giants to create ‘lifelong customers’ in children and teenagers. Her remarks aligned with growing expert support for a complete ban on disposable e-cigarettes in Scotland.

The Parliamentarians were informed about the easy accessibility of brightly-coloured candy vapes deliberately targeting children, readily available in Scottish shops. The MSPs were briefed about a concerning rise in the use of these devices among schoolchildren in Scotland. Startling statistics revealed that one in ten 13-year-olds and a staggering 25 percent of 15-year-olds were vaping in 2022. Professor Banks emphasized that vaping is significantly restricted for approximately 25 percent of the global population. Interestingly, China has its own stringent restrictions on vaping products, despite being a primary producer of the fruity e-cigarettes prevalent in the UK market.

Mothers Against Vaping has consistently criticized international Tobacco and Vaping companies for deliberately targeting children to establish a consumer base for their addictive and harmful products including all kinds of new-age gateway devices such as e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn electronic devices. Stressing on the critical need for increased awareness, they highlighted on the urgency of educating the public about such intentions of these companies.

Mothers Against Vaping member, Dr. Varuna Pathak, a Former Professor of Gynaecology and Obstetrics at the Gandhi Medical College said, “Targeting children as a future market by tobacco and vaping companies is entirely unacceptable. Our stance against this unethical practice has been validated by global experts. Professor Banks’ emphasis on this issue aims to increase awareness among stakeholders, urging for a halt to the advertisement and sale of vaping devices to children.”

“Despite the ban on vaping devices and e-cigarettes in India, their availability is cultivating a generation addicted to these habits, potentially leading them towards tobacco use. It’s crucial to debunk misconceptions that paint e-cigarettes as harmless vapor inhalation. Recent research underscores the substantial harm caused by inhaling these substances, posing risks to lung health and impacting various facets of children’s development, including cognitive abilities and brain development,” Dr. Pathak added.

Recent studies have provided evidence indicating that the aerosol from new-age gateway devices such as e-cigarettes contains particulate matter linked to mechanisms such as lung inflammation, DNA damage and an increased risk of lung cancer. Experts have highlighted that e-cigarettes and many new age gateway products are reported to contain approximately 900 to 2,000 distinct chemical entities with a substantial number still being unknown. Among the known components, many are recognized as hazardous, raising concerns about the potential health risks associated with e-cigarette and many other new age gateway products.

The ultrafine particles and chemicals found in e-cigarette aerosols possess the ability to deeply penetrate the lungs, posing substantial risks to human health. These aerosols consist of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5), notorious for its adverse impact on respiratory health. Additionally, the vapor emitted by e-cigarettes contains cancer-causing chemicals and heavy metals, including nickel, tin, and lead, further compounding the potential health hazards associated with e-cigarette and other new age gateway products usage.

Dr. Bhavna Barmi – Internationally acclaimed Clinical psychologist, Public Speaker and Head Psychologist at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute said, “In addition to being considered a gateway to lifelong tobacco habits, these new-age gateway devices are fostering a new generation of individuals becoming habituated to these products. This rising trend is not only prevalent globally but also noticeable in India. Similar to the concerns raised by Scottish parliamentarians, our own parliamentarians should engage in discussions with experts to ensure that vaping and e-cigarettes do not take root within our country.”

“Recent trends indicate a shift where more young individuals are initiating nicotine use through vaping rather than traditional cigarettes. This presents a significant challenge—a new generation becoming addicted solely through the use of e-cigarettes, which in turn will give rise to various psychological challenges amongst users,” added Dr. Barmi.

According to a recent study conducted by the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), there is a notable trend: more individuals identified as ‘never smokers’ are engaging in vaping and other new age gateway products compared to established smokers. This shift represents a significant change in the tobacco landscape. The study suggests that these ‘never smokers’ are inclined towards consistent vaping and are less likely to initiate smoking combustible cigarettes. Notably, the study highlights that within the age group of 18 to 24, a majority—56 percent—of regular vapers have never been regular cigarette smokers. This data hints at a potential trajectory for future e-cigarette and new age gateway products users.

More than 45 nations which include Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Argentina, Japan, Brazil have implemented e-cigarette bans. In 2019, India commendably banned vaping and e-cigarettes under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act. Despite this, Mothers Against Vaping urges for continuous vigilance, warning against complacency. They highlight the risk of e-cigarettes and other new age gateway products acting as an entry point for children, potentially steering them from vaping to smoking, thereby, fostering a new generation of adult smokers.

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