E-Cigarettes: A New Threat to Our Clean Air

It is a well-known fact to Montanans that secondhand smoke is dangerous. The Montana Clean Indoor Air Act protects our residents from the harmful effects of the toxins in secondhand smoke by banning the use of cigarettes and combustible tobacco in public indoor spaces.

Unfortunately, there is a new threat to our clean air: e-cigarette aerosol.

People have been led to believe that the aerosol released by e-cigarettes is harmless water vapor. But, according to the U.S. Surgeon General, the aerosol contains nicotine

Even more concerning than the chemicals found in secondhand aerosol is the threat to children. Montana is seeing record low rates of teen smoking, but skyrocketing usage of e-cigarettes. In Montana, 30% of youth are using e-cigarettes, over 7 times the rate of adults and almost double the national rate.

Research recently published in the Journal of Adolescent Health has shown that youth who use e-cigarettes are more likely to become cigarette smokers in the future. Even the simple act of observing e-cigarette use evokes smoking urge and desire among young adult smokers, according to a recent study.

Youth exposure to e-cigarettes and the thousands of different products available should be limited, as well as preventing the renormalization of harmful smoking behavior.

Montana residents deserve the right to clean indoor air. We all can stay healthy by following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you need help quitting any type of tobacco product, including E-cigarettes, please call the free Montana Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW, or log on to http://www.QuitNowMontana.com.