Four Corners investigates the explosion in vaping amongst teenagers and the booming black market which is thriving in Australia due to a failure to police the rules.

“It was very clearly marketed to young people, people who had never smoked. You had ads in teen magazines. You had ads on children's cartoon websites. It's no wonder this product appealed to young people so much. It was designed for them. It was marketed to them, and it was available to them.” Public health academic

it is becoming clear that the risks regarding vaping as a gateway drug previously highlighted by health bodies are being realised with a significant public health issue of nicotine addicted youth - despite the protestations of pro vaping bodies and big tobacco lobbied politicians pushing individual rights and health outcomes. LHPC

The Four Corners presentation by reporter Grace Tobin is available in full on abc.net.au

Click here to link to the ABC Four Corners presentation.

Dana Daniel reports in the Age 27/06/27 State Health Ministers push for the Federal Government to crack down on on illicit vaping imports.

The previous attempt to ban nicotine imports - watered down by Coalition Backbenchers and Senators with interesting views in the last federal government, means vaping products remain largely unregulated despite ongoing evidence of undeclared chemicals and nicotine levels and a growing public health issue.

With the rise of vaping amongst youth, previously raised concerns regarding vaping as a gateway product to smoking and long term addiction to Nicotine based (declared or otherwise) products - are perhaps being realised.

“NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley – have been pushing since last year for a “national approach” to vaping, including strong enforcement by the Australian Border Force.”

Click here for full age article

National advice on the use of electronic cigarettes based on the most up-to-date scientific evidence has been delivered by Australia’s health and medical research agency, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

The 2022 NHMRC CEO Statement on E-Cigarettes is the most current advice on health impacts of e-cigarettes and is based on in-depth evidence reviews and an extensive toxicology report.

The advice states clearly that the vapour from e-cigarette devices can be harmful and there is limited evidence that e-cigarettes are effective at helping smokers quit

Based on the latest scientific evidence, the advice states:

• All e-cigarette users are exposed to chemicals and toxins that have the potential to cause harm. In addition to nicotine, more than 200 chemicals have been associated with e-liquids.

• E-cigarettes containing nicotine are addictive and people who have never smoked are more likely to take up tobacco smoking.

• E-cigarettes are not proven safe and effective smoking cessation aids. There are other proven safe and effective options to help smokers quit.

Click here to link to NHRMC statement (website)

2022 CEO Statement on Electronic Cigarettes: Plain English Summary

The latest edition of the Asthma Australia Handbook 2.2 has been released.

First published in 1990, initially as the Asthma Management Plan and then as the Asthma Management Handbook, the Handbook was one of the first Australian guidelines addressing the diagnosis and management of a chronic condition. Throughout its eight editions, the Handbook has set the standard for best-practice asthma management in Australia by being comprehensive and user-friendly, and emphasising a team approach to asthma care.

Current version 2.2 was published in April 2022.

Click here to visit the Asthma Australia 2.2 Portal

Designed and tested in Australia, the new Breath-A-Tech® Anti-static Collapsible Spacer is a valved holding chamber (VHC) designed to optimise the delivery of asthma and COPD medication deep within the lungs.

Suitable for adults and children, the Breath-A-Tech® Anti-static Collapsible Spacer collapses to almost half its size for easy storage, allowing patients to conveniently carry their spacer on-the-go.

The anti-static feature allows patients to use their spacer without needing to prime it before use.

Click here for more details

NB: The Lung Health Promotion Centre does not promote or recommend particular products or suppliers. This posting is included for information only.

Nov 23rd - Reuters reported Juul to pay $14.5 mln to settle AZ lawsuit over youth marketing.

This follows a June court decision ($40m) re youth marketing lawsuit for North Carolina

The report also mentions the second yearly drop in teen vaping rates following federal changes raising the legal vaping age from 18 to 21.

Click here more more details

Victorian workers at risk of silicosis can now access free health screening at Australia’s only dedicated public hospital occupational respiratory clinic, making care more available for people at risk of developing the deadly lung disease.

Alfred Health has partnered with WorkSafe to establish The Alfred Occupational Respiratory Clinic, where eligible workers from the stonemason industry can undergo a comprehensive health assessment and receive a diagnosis on the same day.

Click here to read more.

Natassia Chrysanthos and Eryk Bagshaw of The Age report of the spread of vaping and increase influence on the young.

Their report (The Age 2/9/11) discusses the rise of vaping and concerns regarding the longer term consequences of a largely unregulated product.

Click here more more details

The ABC (23 May 21) reported links between home gas appliances and Asthma.
The article sites a recent report from Dr Charlesworth of the Climate council citing impacts of gas appliances in the household on asthma. The supporting studies are indicative of, although not in the headline magnitude of the link between Gas use in the home and Asthma/wheeze.

Click here for Climate council report. The reports cites Knibbs 2018 whose findings were that “If all homes with gas stoves were fitted with high efficiency range hoods to vent gas combustion products outdoors, the PAF and burden estimates were reduced to 3.4% from 12.3%,(95% CI, 2.2–4.6%) and 761 DALYs (95% CI, 322–1199).”

Lin et al, 2013 Meta study notes ““Our meta-analyses suggest that children living in a home with gas cooking have a 42% increased risk of having current asthma, a 24% increased risk of lifetime asthma and an overall 32% increased risk of having current and lifetime asthma;” but also “although the effects of gas cooking and indoor NO2 on asthma and wheeze were found to be relatively small (all random-effects meta-odds ratios were less than 1.5) the public health impact may still be considerable because gas cooking is widespread.”

This follows a 2020 The Conversation discussion of the same, which ended with Knibbs note on ways to reduce impacts - “Increasing evidence suggests cooking with gas may make asthma worse in children. However, proper use of range hoods could reduce that risk.”

A 2003 study (Eisner,Blank) - did have a contrary finding - “"Among adults with asthma, there was no apparent impact of gas stove use on pulmonary function or respiratory symptoms. These results should be reassuring to adults with asthma and their health care providers”

Click here for the abstract in the BMJ.

Patrice Marques, Laura Piqueras & Maria-Jesus Sanz - review the studies re impacts of e-cigarettes both in the short and longer term.

“Interestingly, there is a strong difference of opinion on e-cigarettes between countries. Whereas countries such as Brazil, Uruguay and India have banned the sale of e-cigarettes, others such as the United Kingdom support this device to quit smoking.”"

In regard to COVID-19 pandemic, the actual literature suggests that nicotine vaping may display adverse outcomes. Therefore, follow up studies are necessary to clarify the impact of e-cigarette consumption on human health in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

In conclusion, e-cigarettes could be a good alternative to conventional tobacco cigarettes, with less side effects; however, a stricter sale control, a proper regulation of the industry including flavour restriction, as well as further toxicological studies, including their chronic effects, are warranted.”

Cick here for the BMC published extract

Elias M. Klemperer and Andrea C. Villanti have published the findings of their research (albeit small sample) investigating "Why and how do dual users quit vaping? “

Interestingly at a high level, the whys and methods are similar to those attempting to quit cigarettes - as is the conclusion that “findings support the need to develop treatment for adults motivated to quit ECs and demonstrate that dual users may currently engage in similar strategies to quit both products.”

Click here more more details

“Markers of Cardiovascular Disease among Adults Exposed to Smoke from the Hazelwood Coal Mine Fire” follows research investigating impact of 6 weeks exposure to the 2014 Hazelwood fires on local populations 4 years later. Click Here

Published on the 8th February, the study reports as part of the 10year study on long term effects.

We look forward to Prof. Michael Abramson’s update at our next Asthma Educators Seminar.

The IJERPH (International Journal of Environment Research and Public Health are issuing a special issue showcasing three papers on the impacts of mine and bush fires on populations.

Click here more more details

The Age (8/2) reports on an AWU push for “national regulations to protect all workers exposed to deadly silica dust, with fears Australia could be hit with a “tsunami” of deaths in the coming decades.”

Rob Harris reports concerns that new proposed regulations do not go far enough.

Click here to read more.

The SMH 25/1 leads with the headline to introduce a recent Australian National University report on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults.

The January 2021 report “Tobacco smoking and mortality among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults in Australia” published in the International Journal of Epidemiology highlights the differences in smoking related morbidity between both generations within the study group and differences compared to non indigenous populations, summarising that “Smoking causes half of deaths in older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults; Indigenous tobacco control must receive increased priority”.

The paper’s co-author Associate Professor Raymond Lovett, a Ngiyampaa (Wongaibon) man, said while the smoking rate in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults was higher than the general population - 40 per cent compared to 14 per cent - the rate of smoking had decreased by 11 per cent over the past 10 to 15 years which is “fantastic news”.

Many of this studies’ authors also contributed to a 2017 report - “Deadly progress: changes in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult daily smoking, 2004–2015” .

The Guardian reported in 2016 reductions in indigenous smoking rates whilst Tobacco in Australia reports current numbers (January 20)