Is electronic cigarette a cigarette?

Is electronic cigarette a cigarette?

On Wednesday, California health authorities announced that e-cigarettes are a health threat and should be strictly controlled like other tobacco products. California has now joined forces with other states and health rights organizations in the United States to more strictly control the popularity of e-cigarettes.

According to the associated press, the California Department of Health reported that e-cigarettes emit carcinogenic chemicals and make users addicted to nicotine. But the Department acknowledges that more research is needed to determine the immediate and long-term health effects of e-cigarettes.

"E-cigarettes are not as harmful as regular cigarettes, but they are not harmless. They are not safe," said Ron Chapman, a California health official

Chapman said that if e-cigarettes remain largely unregulated, a new generation of young people will become addicted to nicotine. Last year, 17% of senior high school students reported using e-cigarettes.

"If no action is taken, California's more than 20-year progress in preventing and reducing traditional tobacco use will be eroded because e-cigarettes will normalize smoking behavior," the report said

E-cigarettes can heat liquid nicotine into an inhalable gas, but it does not produce tar and other chemicals in traditional cigarettes. A nicotine cartridge costs between $5 and $20 and can be reused.

California banned the sale of e-cigarettes to minors in 2010. But the report raised such concerns: e-cigarettes introduced the taste of marshmallow and gummy bear in order to attract children.

It is reported that the number of children under the age of 5 poisoned by e-cigarettes has increased sharply from 7 in 2012 to 154 last year.