Mary Alice Reporting –
Devices that deliver aerosolized nicotine and other chemicals pose injury and health dangers.
The Ohio Department of Health held a press conference on E-cigarette-related exposure injuries with guest, Doctor Hannah Hays, the medical director of the Central Ohio Poison Control Center.
Those at high risk are children and infants due to exposure specifically liquid nicotine ingestion, explains Dr. Hays.
“In one study, one in four children who handled a device got symptoms like vomiting or eye irritation from touching their eyes and all the children in that study were handling functioning devices that worked, so it’s not clear if there was nicotine on the outside or if they were intermittently leaking.”
Hays recommends those who use nicotine products, and other substances or prescriptions, to store the products away from reach and sight of children.
“Preferably in a locked cabinet or box. One thing I council parents on is to not store them in a purse. Storing in a purse is a place that a lot of people put these things but children can easily access the products there.”
ODH Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff says this awareness is critical since not many individuals, especially parents and caregivers, may be aware that vaping is a risk and if exposure does happen, contact the Poison Control Center’s 24/7 number at 1-800-222-1222.
Another rising concern, according to Healthline, is secondhand vape aerosol, which is known to contain carcinogens that can increase the risk of certain cancers and exposure to ultrafine particles from the vape cloud may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
For more information about e-cigarettes and the dangers they pose, especially to youth, go to www.e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov.
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