That the use of e-cigarettes (electronic vapourisers) in encosed public spaces causes harm to others, including those with respiratory conditions.

Update 2015-01-11

I asked for evidence. I was fobbed off with a waffling, random mixture of evidence-free opinion. Perhaps they are aware that the growing body of solid evidence - such as this systematic review by Igor Burstyn http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/14/18

The review concludes:

"By the standards of occupational hygiene, current data do not indicate that exposures to vapour from contaminants in electronic cigarettes warrant a concern. There are no known toxicological synergies among compounds in the aerosol, and mixture of the contaminants does not pose a risk to health.

Exposure of bystanders to the listed ingredients, let alone the contaminants, does not warrant a concern as the exposure is likely to be orders of magnitude lower than exposure experienced by vapers. Further research employing realistic conditions could help quantify the quantity of exhaled aerosol and its behaviour in the environment under realistic worst-case scenarios (i.e., not small sealed chambers), but this is not a priority since the exposure experienced by bystanders is clearly very low compared to the exposure of vapers, and thus there is no reason to expect it would have any health effects."

Here is their reply I was sent by ADPH:

Dear Dan,

Thank you for your email concerning the use of nicotine vapourisers and associated products.
ADPH is currently considering the emerging evidence on the impact of nicotine vapourisers, and we are cognisant of arguments for the potential impact of nicotine vapourisers as a means of quitting or reducing harm by substituting for conventional tobacco products. However, we believe that more research is needed to establish clear evidence of safety and their long term impact on health – as well as on wider questions relating to re-normalisation of smoking behaviour, and the impact on young people of product development, advertising and marketing.
As you will be aware, there are concerns that the marketing of nicotine vapourisers and their widespread use in enclosed public spaces will undermine the successful efforts which have been made to de-normalise smoking behaviour. As such, on-going surveillance is required to assess whether nicotine vapourisers and associated products may act as a gateway product to the use of tobacco and nicotine addiction for ex-smokers and never smokers. Until the evidence is clearer we believe that the precautionary principle ought to apply.
We are working in collaboration with other Public Health organisations to support the development of evidence based approaches to nicotine vapourisers.
Our interim position statement on nicotine vapourisers and associated products summarises the collective views from a survey of our members and we will continue to canvass the views of our members and to review our policy position during 2015 – both in the light of further research and evidence, and in response to product development.

Best wishes
Julia

Julia Ellis
Policy Manager
Association of Directors of Public Health

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