Vapes could lead to health harms in children, doctors warn

Doctors warn that vaping could lead to health issues in children and young people, urging the UK government to implement stricter restrictions on the sale of vaping products. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has reviewed approximately 81 studies on vaping, associating it with higher rates of breathing problems and adverse effects on infants whose mothers vaped during pregnancy.

The review, published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, emphasizes that vaping should not be considered a harmless part of growing up. The RCPCH is advocating for the government to take more robust measures to restrict vape sales, including limiting flavor options. The review highlights a range of health issues linked to vaping, such as wheezing, poor oral and dental health, sleep disturbances, mental health problems, and eye symptoms.

Prof Will Carroll, co-author of the systematic review, explains that the evidence clearly ties vaping to respiratory symptoms, nicotine addiction, and the risk of progressing to cigarette smoking. He stresses that immediate action is needed to make vaping less appealing and accessible to children. Dr Mike McKean, vice-president for policy at the RCPCH, acknowledges that vaping is a recent product with unknown long-term impacts but stresses the urgency to stay ahead of the evolving market and continue protecting children from nicotine products.

The UK government recently launched a 12-week consultation on the appearance, packaging, and display of vapes to reduce their appeal to children, implementing plain packaging, strict branding limits, and restricting their visibility in shops. This follows the recent Tobacco and Vapes Act, which aims to create the UK's first smoke-free generation by banning cigarette sales to anyone born after 1 January 2009.

While the act is a significant step in protecting children from nicotine addiction, experts argue that it should not be seen as a definitive solution. Dr McKean notes that the new law must be complemented by further restrictions, particularly on the types of flavors available. A recent poll by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) reveals that nearly one in five 11 to 17-year-olds in Britain have tried vaping, emphasizing that while vaping is less harmful than smoking, it is not risk-free.

Hazel Cheeseman, ASH's chief executive, stresses that strong controls on marketing and promotion are crucial to curbing youth vaping. Andrew McCracken from Asthma + Lung UK points out that while vapes can help current smokers quit, they should not be used by non-smokers, especially children. The Department of Health and Social Care reiterates that children should never vape, citing the evidence presented and outlining plans to ban single-use vapes and advertising next year, along with consulting on further measures to restrict vaping packaging appealing to children.