“popcorn lung” [Bronchiolitis obliterans, an inflammatory obstruction of the lung’s tiniest airways, called bronchioles], he said. “Popcorn lung was discovered in people who worked in plants that manufactured microwave popcorn, and they were being exposed to a lot of aerosol-based chemicals that the caused a disorder of the lung. Some of the flavors that are put in e-cigarettes carry that same ingredient.”
The Department of Health (TDH) issued an updated advisory this month based on a public health statement on e-cigarettes first released in 2013. After TDH analyzed unbiased and scientific data, they used the new advisory to inform current and potential users of the harmful risks associated with e-cigs and similar devices.
THD Commissioner John Dreyzehner also advised people using e-cigs to quit tobacco products that e-cigs are not an approved method by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the Centers for Disease Control and could create their own dangers.
“[The public] is getting a lot of mixed messages,” Ford said. “The fact of the matter is the science on that is not complete to date to see if that’s an effective strategy of breaking the habit.”
Regarding overall perception, there is a wide range of information in the public domain from both the creators and marketers of e-cigs and in public health resources, Ford said.
Researchers concluded that their data affirmed an ongoing increase in public awareness of e-cigs and also a deviation in the perception of harm caused by e-cigs in relation to traditional cigarettes.
“Of course there are lots of differences across social groups and ages, but we were pleased to see that a wide swath of the American population, irrespective of their race, gender or age, were actually learning more about these and had become better informed,” Ford said. “We think that’s hopeful in some respect that the most defensible thing we can do in public health is a good education. The extent that people are increasing their awareness in a constructive fashion, that’s good news.”
