In addition to the two potentially carcinogenic substances, another substance studied can cause an allergic reaction. A fourth substance is irritating and can therefore be harmful to the lungs. Three other flavorings may pose health risks at the highest concentrations in the liquids in e-cigarettes. RIVM advises therefore not to allow the seven flavourings.
The institute investigated the 23 flavors that the government wants to allow in e-cigarettes. According to the RIVM, there is ‘not enough information for the other 16 flavorings to assess the health effects’. Those 16 substances could also be banned, according to the RIVM, but another option is to allow them because they ‘would help smokers to quit smoking’.
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Tobacco flavor only
Soon e-cigarettes will only be allowed to taste like tobacco. Sweet flavors and menthol are prohibited. The government decided to make ‘vaping’ less attractive, especially among young people.
RIVM previously investigated 503 flavorings in e-cigarettes, which led to the preliminary recommendation to allow the 23 substances.
For a time, the e-cigarette was seen as a ‘healthier’ alternative to tobacco because it lacks many of the toxic combustion products of tobacco. But harmful substances are released in the vapor from the cigarettes, according to several studies, including that of the Trimbos Institute in 2020. The institute also concluded that e-cigarettes work as a ‘step-up product’ to tobacco cigarettes.
Industry warns
The association for retailers selling e-cigarettes, the Esigbond, fears that users will exchange their e-cigarettes for cigarettes due to the taste ban. In countries where such a ban has been introduced, the number of smokers is increasing again, the union says.
“The e-cigarette is an attractive alternative to smoking because of its flavours. If you remove those flavours, a smoker will ignore the e-cigarette. Current e-cigarette users will also fall back on smoking, buy their products on the black market or start mixing aromas themselves,” says Emil ‘t Hart, president of the Esigbond. “Mixing e-cigarette liquid yourself is a very real danger, we notice that interest in home brewing is increasing strongly and that the market is currently flooded with illegal disposable e-cigarettes.”
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