Government warning over dangers of electronic cigarettes

Tobacco blog: www.freetobacco.info
THE Labour Inspection Department is warning the public to beware of using the electronic cigarette (E-cigarette) as their toxic liquid nicotine could pose serious health and environmental risks. An official at the department, Tasoula Kyprianidou Leontidou, said yesterday the product didn’t always carry the necessary health warnings, making the public oblivious to the exact levels of toxicity. She said importers of the E-cigarette had been warned to ensure they buy products that are properly checked and labelled.

 “(The public) should know that they are using a substitute for cigarettes, but they too contain toxic substances,” said Leontidou. “Until now, we have spotted five or six of these importers. The products originate from various countries, including third countries.” She said the department was so far aware that the liquid in question was made up of around 18 per cent nicotine, which she said was very toxic.

“What we are most concerned about now is finding out what effect this substance has on humans,” said Leontidou, adding: “But all this can’t just be determined through lab tests, but expert toxicology tests.” Last week, the head of the public health services, Christos Christou, said there wasn’t a specific EU directive – or local law – to deal with E-cigarettes, which meant products imported thus far had not been checked. In an announcement on Monday, the Department warned the public to beware of liquid nicotine that was circulating the European market and which was considered to carry health risks.

“The liquid nicotine and mixers (the E-cigarettes) contain are considered very toxic for human health and dangerous for the environment,” said the department. It is noted that it isn’t the so-called smoke emitted from the product that is dangerous for the environment but the actual liquid itself. The department added that such products had been spotted in the EU, without the necessary labelling listing the risks. It issued the names of products that had so far been spotted without the necessary warnings: l Halo liquid nicotine, used in the American Tribeca, Prime 15 and Coolmist E-cigarettes l Dekang liquid nicotine, used in the Chinese Pineapple and Desert Ship E-cigarettes l Esco Technology liquid nicotine, used in Chinese products Turkish Tobacco Med and Strawberry Low E-cigarettes.