use of electronic cigarettes (E-cigars).METHODS: We used data from the Korea National Health and Nutritional Survey 2013 and 2016. A total of 4,744 participants (2,162 men and 2,582 women) were included and were categorized into five groups (Non-smokers, E-cigar non-users in past-smokers, E-cigar users in past-smokers, E-cigar non-users in cigarette-smokers and E-cigar users in cigarette-smokers). Cadmium blood concentration was categorized into tertiles. All sampling and weight variables were stratified, and analysis to account for the complex sampling design was conducted.RESULTS: In both genders, the geometric cadmium concentration was significantly different according to smoking status (both genders, analysis of variance P value < 0.001). In men, E-cigar users were significantly higher than the non-smokers (P value = past-smokers, 0.017; cigarette-smokers, < 0.001) when fully adjusted. Compared with non-smokers, fully-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the highest cadmium tertiles of E-cigar non-users in cigarette-smokers and E-cigar users in cigarette-smokers were 6.56 (3.55–12.11) and 5.68 (1.96–16.50) in men and 2.74 (1.42–5.29) and 1.29 (0.10–17.44) in women.CONCLUSION: Conventional cigarette smoking in men and women and E-cigar use in men are associated with higher risk of elevated blood cadmium level. Preventive management of cadmium exposure monitoring in conventional cigarette-smokers and E-cigar users may be needed.]]>
Cadmium ; Electronic Cigarettes ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Odds Ratio ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco ; Tobacco Products

This document provides a description of country-level laws that regulate electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products. The mechanisms used to regulate e-cigarettes were classified as either new/amended laws or existing laws. The policy domains identified include restrictions or prohibitions related to the product (sale, manufacturing, importation, distribution, use, product design including e-liquid ingredients, advertising/ promotion/ sponsorship, and trademarks) and regulatory requirements (taxation, health warning labels, and child-safety standards). A range of regulatory approaches are currently being applied to e-cigarettes globally; however, many countries still regulate e-cigarettes using legislation not tailored specifically for e-cigarettes. Only a handful of countries levy a tax on e-cigarettes. Evidence on the harmful effects and benefits of e-cigarettes usage has not been clearly established yet. The regulatory treatment of heated tobacco products varies from country to country, with some classifying e-cigarettes and cigarettes under the same legislation, other countries treating e-cigarettes more favorably, and some jurisdictions banning them altogether. As the evidence base grows, we expect additional activity in the regulatory arena.
Electronic Cigarettes ; Hand ; Hot Temperature ; Jurisprudence ; Nicotine ; Taxes ; Tobacco Products ; Tobacco

One person dies every six seconds from a smoking-related disease and this problem is likely to worsen. While many people try to quit smoking on their own or with using medicinal products, many of them fail. There is an ongoing debate within the public health community about e-cigarettes on whether they have a potential role in smoking cessation, whether their use can reduce harm for individual users, whether the widespread use of these devices has the potential to reduce or increase population-level harm, and how best to regulate e-cigarette use to minimize both individual and population-level harm. Although the long-term effects of e-cigarette use among smokers and non-smokers are not known, nicotine aerosol produced from a solution, rather than from burning tobacco, releases fewer harmful substances than cigarette smoke does. Some experts advocate wider availability and softer regulations regarding e-cigarette use and perceive them as having the potential to help smokers quit or switch to a harm-reducing means of consuming nicotine. Based on scientific evidence on e-cigarettes, this article explores its pros and cons to public health in order to guide practice, policy, and regulation through reviews of debate articles. ‘Quit or die’ is no longer the only option for those who cannot quit. Safer nicotine products offer another way. There is substantial international and independent evidence that these products are safer than cigarettes.
Burns ; Electronic Cigarettes ; Harm Reduction ; Humans ; Nicotine ; Public Health ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Smoking Cessation ; Social Control, Formal ; Tobacco ; Tobacco Products

E-cigarettes (ECs) and heated tobacco products (HTPs) have become popular in Korea; hence, it is important to determine whether ECs and HTPs are less hazardous than combustible cigarettes (CCs). In general, the levels of harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) are lower in ECs and HTPs than in CCs, although the levels of some heavy metals and HPHCs are higher in ECs and HTPs than in CCs. ECs and HTPs showed possible adverse effects on respiratory and cardiovascular system function, which could result in chronic respiratory and cardiovascular system diseases in animals. An analysis of biomarkers showed that ECs had possible adverse health effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, in addition the effects of HTP on respiratory and cardiovascular systems were not significantly different than those of CC. Epidemiological studies identified positive associations between EC use and asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and myocardial infarction. Only one epidemiologic study reported a positive association between ever using HTPs and asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis among adolescents. Modelling studies of ECs did not show consistent findings regarding the health effects compared with those of CCs. A modeling study of HTPs, performed by tobacco industry, has been criticized for many unfounded assumptions. Lower levels of HPHCs in ECs and HTPs, compared with those in CCs, cannot be directly translated into health benefits because the relationship between exposure and effects is non-linear for cardiovascular diseases and because the duration of exposure is more important than the level of exposure in determining lung cancer mortality. In summary, there is no definite health benefit in using ECs or HTPs instead of CCs, for the individual or the population; hence, tobacco control measures should be the same for ECs, HTPs, and CCs. ECs and HTPs have become popular in Korea; hence, it is important to determine whether ECs and HTPs are less hazardous than CCs.
Adolescent ; Animals ; Asthma ; Biomarkers ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cardiovascular System ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Electronic Cigarettes ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Korea ; Lung Neoplasms ; Metals, Heavy ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Smoking ; Tobacco Industry ; Tobacco Products ; Tobacco

Tobacco products are rapidly evolving. Since the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control came to effect in 2005, the parties of the treaty have been aiming to control tobacco use. Moreover, the social norm of smoking has changed. These changes have prompted the tobacco industry to evolve their products and business model. There have been several evolutions in tobacco products. Firstly, new tobacco products, such as electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products were introduced into markets that were previously dominated by conventional cigarettes. Thus, smokers are able to select alternative tobacco products. Secondly, new devices for tobacco use, including universal serial bus, smart watch, and car key devices, have been developed and released. These devices are popular among females and youth, who wish to hide their smoking behavior. Thirdly, nicotine, which is used in tobacco products, has also evolved. Typically, ‘free-base nicotine’ has been the main form used in tobacco products, because it helps to deliver nicotine quickly to the smoker's brain. However, a new form of nicotine, ‘nicotine salt’, is used in electronic cigarettes. It can deliver a more highly concentrated dose of nicotine to the smoker’s brain. To regulate these evolving products, laws are required to prevent the easy access of new tobacco products in the Korean market and therefore, a new organization for monitoring the evolution of tobacco products is required. Additionally, we need to encourage young people and scholars to develop interest in tobacco product control, thus ensuring adequate regulation of new tobacco products.
Adolescent ; Brain ; Commerce ; Electronic Cigarettes ; Female ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; International Cooperation ; Jurisprudence ; Nicotine ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Social Norms ; Tobacco Industry ; Tobacco Products ; Tobacco Use ; Tobacco ; World Health Organization

E-cigarettes, or electronic nicotine delivery systems, are popular among smokers who are looking for a less harmful alternative to conventional tobacco, and the use of e-cigarettes is affected by existing tobacco control policies. E-cigarettes, which are electronic devices designed to allow the user to inhale nicotine as a vapor, are controversial in terms of their harm reduction claims as it can undermine existing tobacco control policies and has the potential to re-normalize smoking behavior. Currently, many of the chemicals used in e-cigarettes have not been comprehensively disclosed, and there is no adequate data on their emissions. Furthermore, the benefits of e-cigarettes have not been adequately shown. To date, a small number of studies have evaluated e-cigarettes as a harm reduction and cessation aid and have found conflicting findings. Meanwhile, e-cigarette or vaping product use associated lung injury has been identified, and an increased use of e-cigarettes in the youth has also been reported recently in the United States. These raise a great social concern around how to regulate e-cigarettes for the protection of public health. A range of current and proposed legislative and regulatory options exists. Some countries have banned e-cigarettes entirely, while others are ready to regulate e-cigarettes as a type of medicine. A lack of consensus on whether e-cigarettes facilitate or threaten existing tobacco control strategies is driving a discussion on how to regulate e-cigarettes in terms of the protection of public health.
Adolescent ; Consensus ; Electronic Cigarettes ; Harm Reduction ; Humans ; Lung Injury ; Nicotine ; Public Health ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco ; United States

The term new tobacco products (NTPs) refers to the new alternatives to conventional cigarettes. There are several kinds of NTPs in South Korea. The present study discusses the most widely used NTPs namely electronic cigarette (ECs) and heated tobacco products (HTPs). The aims of this study are to evaluate the risk related to the use of ECs and HTPs, introduce policy examples across different countries of management of this issue, and finally, present some policy implications of the problem and our response strategies. Since the advent of ECs, there has been a lot of debate about its risk. Some studies have reported that ECs are less harmful than conventional cigarettes and that they are effective in aiding smoking cessation. Nevertheless, the efficacy of ECs in smoking cessation and its potential health risks are still unclear. However, the obvious fact is that it is not harmless. Regulations on ECs differ from country to country. In many countries, they are strictly regulated as tobacco or toxic substances; however, in the United Kingdom, the use of ECs are included as part of their smoking cessation policy, and in Japan, they are treated as a form of medication. On the other hand, HTPs are the most recently introduced NTPs and they have attained sensational popularity because of the wrongly held belief that they are less harmful to health. So, what about our policy response to these two tobacco products? The research on ECs requires more systematic statistical monitoring, such as monitoring the ratio of dual-users. Further, the new EC smokers should be identified taking into account that the arguments for the use of ECs often emphasize smoking cessation or less risks to health, the government should further strengthen its policy to prevent those claims. The HTPs market experienced a very sharp growth and continues to grow because the government policy is too passive. Taking this as a lesson, it is necessary to approach NTPs, such as HTPs, proactively and increase their contribution to the National Health Promotion Fund by imposing greater taxes on them. Finally, considering the likelihood of NTPs being promoted as a less harmful tobacco product, it is essential to strictly regulate tobacco companies' publicity from the very beginning to ensure that potential consumer s are not mislead.
Electronic Cigarettes ; Financial Management ; Great Britain ; Hand ; Health Promotion ; Hot Temperature ; Japan ; Korea ; Smoking Cessation ; Social Control, Formal ; Taxes ; Tobacco Products ; Tobacco

BACKGROUND: Electronic cigarette (EC) consumption (‘vaping’) is rapidly increasing, not only in adults but also in adolescents. Little is known about the association between vaping and problem behaviors such as drinking. METHODS: We used data from the 11th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, which was conducted in 2015 and included 68,043 participants who were Korean middle and high school students. The survey assessed EC, cigarette, and alcohol use. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine risk of current drinking and problem drinking across the following categories of users: never user (never used either product), former user (use of EC or cigarettes in the past, but not currently), vaping only, smoking only, and dual user (current use of both products). RESULTS: EC only users were 1.2% in males, and 0.3% in females. Dual user of both conventional cigarettes and ECs were 5.1% in males, and 1.2% in females. Drinking frequency, drinking quantity per once, and problem drinking were higher among vapers than non-vapers and former-vapers, moreover, were higher among daily vapers than intermittent vapers. Compared to never users, EC only users were higher on risk of current drink and problem drink. The dual users were highest on risk of current drink. CONCLUSION: Vaping is independently associated with alcohol use problems in Korean students, even those not currently smoking. Moreover, dual use of cigarettes and ECs is strongly associated with alcohol use problems. Therefore, vaping students should be concerned about their hidden alcohol use problems.
Adolescent Behavior ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; Drinking ; Electronic Cigarettes ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Problem Behavior ; Risk-Taking ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco Products

BACKGROUND: This study used the data of Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS) to confirm the relationship between electronic cigarette use for smoking cessation among Korean adolescents and demographic, health behavior, and school-life factors. METHODS: Data were taken from the 13th KYRBS in 2017. In this study on 62,276 adolescents, characteristics of 1,244 electronic cigarette users were compared with those of non-electronic cigarette users. The 1,244 adolescent electronic cigarette users were evaluated for characteristics related to smoking cessation. Among the related characteristics, demographic factors comprised sex, grade, economic status, weekly allowance, and residence type. Health status-related factors comprised physical activity, lifetime drinking experience, smoking amount, subjective health perception, and stress perception. School characteristics included school type, academic performance, and smoking cessation education. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were performed using complex sample analysis. RESULTS: The proportion of current electronic cigarette users was 2.2% (boys, 3.3%; girls, 0.9%). Of the 41.5% of cigarette users willing to quit smoking, 11% used electronic cigarettes for this purpose. Among the electronic cigarette users, characteristics related to smoking cessation were grade, weekly allowance, and residence type, but logistic regression analysis revealed that increases in grade (odds ratio [OR], 2.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21–3.35) and living with family (OR, 4.17; 95% CI, 1.89–9.18) were associated with smoking cessation. CONCLUSIONS: According to the 13th KYRBS in 2017, adolescents were likely to use electronic cigarette for smoking cessation when they are older and live with their families.
Adolescent ; Demography ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Drinking ; Education ; Electronic Cigarettes ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Motor Activity ; Risk-Taking ; Smoke ; Smoking Cessation ; Smoking ; Tobacco Products

PURPOSE: We aimed to identify associations between the frequency of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use and smoking-related characteristics among adolescent smokers.METHODS: We used data from the 14th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The participants were 3,722 smokers who had smoked cigarettes on at least one day during the past 30 days. The frequency of e-cigarette use was defined as the number of days that participants used e-cigarettes during the past 30 days, and was divided into four categories: 0, 1~2, 3~9, and ≥10 days. We used the χ² test and multinomial logistic regression to examine the associations between the frequency of e-cigarette use and smoking-related characteristics.RESULTS: Those who attempted to quit smoking, had used a heated tobacco product (HTP) at least once, or initiated e-cigarette use before middle school were more likely to use e-cigarettes for 3~9 days in the past 30 days. More frequent e-cigarette use (≥10 days) was associated with a higher frequency and greater amount of cigarette use, lifetime HTP use, and earlier initiation of e-cigarette use.CONCLUSION: Smoking-related characteristics differed by the frequency of e-cigarette use. Therefore, intervention programs targeting adolescent smokers should consider differences in smoking-related characteristics based on the frequency of e-cigarette use.
Adolescent ; Electronic Cigarettes ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Risk-Taking ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco Products