THE OFFICIAL ATTITUDE OF THE MMA NATIONAL POISON CONTROL CENTER REGARDING THE ELECTRONIC NICOTINE DELIVERY SYSTEM (ENDS)
Professional papers being presented in toxicology congresses in course of the year 2013 spoke about the augmented number of accidental and voluntary (per oral, inhalational, percutaneous) electronic cigarettes exposures in both adults and children, having demonstrated different toxic and side effects, which are not severely danger in case of accidental exposure. In addition, conducted analysis showed the presence of different nicotine amounts ranging from package declared values up to 50% more.
Considering there have not been carried out enough clinically controlled and toxicological studies about the e-cigarettes use on user’s health neither are sufficiently examined potential toxic material they are composed of, there are no scientific data to back the claims about their safety or efficacy in tobacco cessation.
The official report from the World Health Organization on e-cigarettes published this year invited all the countries’ authorities to adopt the device-related global regulative principle in the public health interest. It has been recommended to ban e-cigarettes trade to the minors, smoking indoors while its consummation has been estimated as greater danger to specifically vulnerable social groups, i.e. adolescents and fetuses. Therefore, report notes that current data demonstrate that "is not merely water vapour as is often claimed in the marketing for these products" thus recommending prohibition of their further promotion in media.
The aforementioned attitude has been supported by the Smoking Prevention Commission of Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia.
This was the occasion for National Poison Control Center of the Military Medical Academy to air its opinion that it is necessary to follow the recommendations of the World Health Organization related to e-cigarettes.
Belgrade, August 27, 2014
