This month’s Journal of Burn Care & Research features a paper detailing the repercussions of eight cases of Li-ion batteries exploding in vape devices. The research team state: “Several types of injuries can occur, including chemical and thermal burns, inhalation injuries, and metal poisoning.”
Worryingly, they point out “There are currently no specific guidelines on the management of burns due to Lithium-ion battery exposure.” Addressing this, they detail a number of steps for emergency-care staff should the worst happen in future.
While exploding batteries are a hot topic, European teens in Finland know what’s cool – and it isn’t smoking. “Many think that other tobacco products like the smokeless tobacco product snus and e-cigarettes are safer,” according to researchers – and snus remains popular despite its ban in Finland.
Sulabha Parasuraman, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, wants to stamp out harm reduction products (which makes him distinctly not cool). “There is no huge consumption of e-cigarettes in surveyed population. But…” this will not stop the push by The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration to obtain an outright ban on vaping in the province.
The state aims to follow Punjab, the only one currently banning vape products, in a drive to eliminate smoking. It’s an odd approach, especially as this week sees news that Mexico’s smoking rate continues to rise.
Not only are more people smoking, but also those who already smoked are now smoking more than they’ve done before. They are smoking in schools, in bars and on public transport, causing public health officials to worry for the non-smoking population. Although vaping isn’t banned as such, enough barriers have been placed in its way that the industry has been chocked back – while the tobacco industry has been left to flourish.
Unfortunately for vendors, the Thai law enforcers aren’t as lax as they are in Mexico, but it has a similar impact on the vape community. Sivanut Poonpol and his girlfriend Natthanicha Duangthong arrested them for being in possession of 40 electronic cigarettes and 3,500 bottles of vaping liquid. The haul was valued at around two million baht in total (£23,000).
A Worthing newsagent has also been caught red-handed after a sting operation. Following an employee selling eLiquid to a 16-yr old, the newsagents problems were compounded as Trading Standards went on to discover a haul of illegal cigarettes. As a result, Worthing Borough Council’s licensing committee revoked the shop’s licence to sell alcohol.
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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Be Vape Vigilant Success
The ‘Be Vape Vigilant’ national initiative has exposed more than 100 potential rogue vape traders says the UK Vaping Industry Association
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by Dave Cross
The COP10 Scorecard
Dr Derek Yach and Tobacco Harm Reduction.net have released a COP10 Scorecard report, drawing upon recent World Health Organization (WHO) reports to assess progress made by Parties to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)
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by Dave Cross
A Manifesto for Smokefree Beginnings
The Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group has produced its fourth national report: “A Manifesto for Smokefree Beginnings”
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by Dave Cross
European Parliament Endorses Smoking Cessation Tool
The European Parliament has endorsed vaping as a smoking cessation tool via its Subcommittee on Public Health, according to the World Vapers’ Alliance
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by Dave Cross
