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Home » What’s New » Can e-cigarettes be used in public places?

Can e-cigarettes be used in public places?

Rules vary, but many public places (airplanes, hotels, etc) consider e-cigarettes and vaping within their no-smoking policies.

E-cigarettes can trigger some types of smoke alarms.

Rarely, e-cigarettes have been associated with explosions (due to the lithium battery) and fires causing serious burns and death.

Can e-cigarettes be used by hospitalized patients?

Many hospitals include e-cigarette use by patients and visitors in their no smoking policies.

Patients who use e-cigarettes may experience a withdrawal syndrome from nicotine.

Hospitalized patients who cannot use e-cigarettes should be offered nicotine replacement therapy if needed. The amount nicotine in e-cigarettes can vary. Some hospital nicotine replacement protocols recommend starting e-cigarette patients on low-dose nicotine replacement therapy, then monitoring and titrating as needed.

Are there poisonings with e-cigarettes?

The flavorings of e-liquids and designs of the devices are very appealing to children. They must be kept in a safe place, out of reach of children and pets.

As e-cigarettes have become more popular, poison centers report an increasing number of exposures to nicotine-containing e-liquids, from 271 cases in 2011 to 3,073 cases in 2015.

Commercially available e-liquids can contain up to 100 mg/mL of nicotine.

Just 1 mg of nicotine can cause adverse symptoms in a toddler, and 6 mg/kg to 13 mg/kg can be lethal.

Poisonings from e-liquids are reported from ingestion, skin contact, or by inhalation.

Symptoms of nicotine toxicity can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, weakness, hypertension, and tachycardia. In severe cases; seizures, coma, and death can occur.

Use caution when handling e-liquids to avoid skin exposure, due to the potential for topical nicotine absorption.

How are e-cigarettes regulated?

Regulations for e-cigarettes and vaping are evolving.

FDA and Health Canada regulate all aspects of e-cigarettes and vaping products; including packaging, promotion, banning of ingredients or devices, etc.

Vaping products with nicotine are available to adults as an alternative to smoking.

E-cigarettes are not able to be purchased by those younger than 18 years of age in Canada and the U.S.

Healthcare professionals are also calling for regulations on these devices that may prevent them from being manipulated for alternative uses (e.g., dripping, etc).