Nicotine in e-cigarettes, notices to 2 shopkeepers

With the samples of e-cigarette collected from two 'paan' shops by the health department showing the presence of nicotine, notices have been sent to the shopkeepers.

The health department had collected samples of e-cigarette in September from Chaurasia Pan, near Khushi Ram and Sons, Ferozepur Road, and Chaurasia Pan Bhandar on Old Malhar Road. The samples were sent to the laboratory in Chandigarh for testing which confirmed presence of nicotine.

Notices have been sent to the shop owners under the Drug and Cosmetic Act on Monday and now case would be registered for selling unapproved drug in their shops. Fine and imprisonment up to three years could be granted to the violators by the court if found guilty.

Drug inspector Sukhbir Chand said, “We have issued notices to both shop owners and now the cases will be taken to the sessions court. The sale of e-cigarette is banned in the state under the Drug and Cosmetic Act. Nicotine is addictive and can harm the body.”

This is the second case in the state where nicotine had been found in e-cigarette. Earlier, nicotine-based e-cigarette was found in SAS Nagar in April

E-cigarette as harmful as conventional cigarette

The concept of e-cigarette is becoming popular among youngsters with a rumour that it helps in quitting smoking and is not very harmful. But experts differ on this and call e-cigarette as harmful as conventional cigarette.

Dr Akashdeep Singh, associate professor, respiratory medicine, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), said, “E-cigarette has addicting potential and has nicotine and other harmful contents in liquid form. If someone says it is an option to quit smoking then this is myth because once you become addictive to liquid nicotine then leaving it can make you as restless as after leaving the conventional cigarette. It can also lead to cancer, a bit slow though.”

What is e-cigarette?

An electronic cigarette or personal vaporiser is a battery powered vaporiser which has the feel of tobacco smoking. They do not produce cigarette smoke but rather an aerosol, which is commonly but inaccurately referred to as vapour. E-cigarettes have a heating element that atomises as liquid solutions known as e-liquid, which is usually a mixture of propylene glycol, glycerine nicotine and flavours.