CHEST Guidelines-Response

Response_chest (4)

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The document contains a correspondence regarding a previous article published in CHEST about the ongoing cigarette epidemic and the role of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). The authors, including Mr. Chausse and Dr. Dutheil from Blaise Pascal University and the Australian Catholic University respectively, have addressed concerns about the safety and regulatory aspects of e-cigarettes. They emphasize that these devices were made widely available without sufficient long-term safety studies. <br /><br />The correspondence highlights that e-cigarettes should potentially be used only to aid smoking cessation. However, recent research has shown that they are ineffective for this purpose, questioning the rationale behind promoting them. The authors urge for regulation of e-cigarettes, emphasizing the need for clear information regarding their risks and benefits, to protect public health, especially among children.<br /><br />Moreover, they criticize the current public policy allowing over-the-counter sales of e-cigarettes without proper safety validation, arguing that this availability is premature and potentially harmful due to their addictive nature and possible long-term biological risks.<br /><br />Dr. Richard D. Hurt and colleagues from the Mayo Clinic support these views, stressing that e-cigarettes might not help in smoking cessation as initially thought and should be regulated to mitigate potential harm. Dr. Hurt acknowledges receiving a medical education grant from Pfizer, but notes no conflicts of interest related to this correspondence.<br /><br />The authors call for a reversal in public policy regarding e-cigarette availability until comprehensive safety studies are conducted, reflecting a consensus towards cautious regulation and controlled dissemination of e-cigarette products to ensure public health safety.

Keywords

cigarette epidemic

electronic cigarettes

e-cigarettes safety

smoking cessation

public health

e-cigarettes regulation

addictive nature

long-term risks

public policy

safety studies