Not smoking, vapers on e-cigarettes

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

VAPERS came to the defense of e-cigarettes during a public consultation here to assert that vaping is a safe alternative to cigarette smoking, and that it should not be banned.

Art Lou Esling Reyes, manager of a company that is into vapes or e-cigarettes, said vaping opens up “a whole new world of aromas… with pleasurable scents” that may have long been forgotten by cigarette smokers.

Smoking tobacco, according to Reyes, dramatically weakens a person’s sense of smell.

“This happens so slowly that you may not notice it. But when you switch to electronic cigarettes, however, you’ll find your sense of smell returning,” he said.

When burned, cigarettes produce over 7,000 chemicals, many of which are harmful.

But vaping ethusiasts argue that e-liquids for vapes only contain non-toxic propylene glycol which is used in asthma inhalers and nebulizers, vegetable glycerol, and a small percentage of flavoring. They also said nicotine content in e-liquid is optional, and there are plenty of zero-nicotine products in the market.

During the public consultation at Centrio Mall on Friday, Bureau of Food and Drugs representative Julieta Bingona said, “Iegulate og ibalanse pa kini. Daghan pa ang prosesso ani.”

Almer Masillones, consumer protection office chief  of the Department of Trade and Industry in Region 10, said vapes are excluded from the Tobacco Regulation Act.

“[Since] it is not included in the regulation laws, then we don’t have authority. It is too premature for us,” she said.

Dr. Dwight Labeta of the city hall-owned JR Borja Memorial General Hospital asserted that vaping is harmful without explaining exactly how it affects people’s health.

“Naa gihapon siya’y harmful effect. Smoking is addictive,” he said.

He said there was a need to study the effects of vaping, e-liquids and their components.

“Unsa ang effect ana sa atong body kay i-absorb man kana sa atong lawas?” asked Labeta as he proposed regulations.