Guangdong Has 23.7375 Million Smokers; Experts Say E-Cigarettes Have Confirmed Negative Health Effec

May 31 marks the 32nd World No Tobacco Day. According to the Guangdong Provincial Health Commission and the Guangdong Health Education Center, the number of smokers aged 15 and above in the province has reached 23.7375 million, with an adult smoking rate of 26.48%. The smoking rates among youth and women continue to rise, indicating that tobacco control efforts face significant challenges.

Chen Yiping, Deputy Director of the Guangdong Health Commission, stated that over the past year, Guangdong has continuously strengthened tobacco control through legislation. On November 29, 2018, the 13th Guangdong Provincial People's Congress passed the revised "Guangdong Provincial Patriotic Health Work Regulations," which includes a dedicated chapter on smoking control. Currently, the "Guangzhou Smoking Control Regulations" and "Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Smoking Control Regulations" have been officially implemented, providing legal support for tobacco control efforts in Guangdong. Additionally, targeted campaigns have been launched to enhance the effectiveness of tobacco control communication. Training sessions for smoking cessation doctors and brief intervention training have trained over 500 tobacco control administrative personnel, 400 smoking cessation doctors, and more than 5,000 brief intervention personnel.

Chen Yiping acknowledged that the "Healthy China 2030" plan aims to reduce the smoking rate among those aged 15 and above to below 20% by 2030. However, the latest survey shows that the smoking rate among this demographic in Guangdong is 26.48%, with an estimated 23.7375 million smokers. A 2019 undercover investigation revealed that indoor smoking remains prevalent, and the smoking rates among youth and women continue to rise, with secondhand smoke exposure still widespread. The tobacco control situation in Guangdong is concerning, and efforts must be intensified to ensure effective tobacco control outcomes.

In recent years, e-cigarettes have seen explosive growth globally, particularly among youth and young adults in Europe and the United States, prompting major tobacco companies to enter the e-cigarette market, raising significant public health concerns. Xia Yinghua from the Guangdong Center for Disease Control and Prevention stated that the prevalence of e-cigarette use in China is lower than in Europe and the United States, with a usage rate of 0.5% in 2015 and 3.1% among adults, most of whom are occasional users. The market is flooded with various e-cigarette products, primarily containing nicotine, solvents, and flavorings. Nicotine is addictive. Additionally, harmful substances such as coumarin, acetamide, benzo[a]pyrene, ultrafine particles, harmful metals, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, and acrolein have been detected in e-liquids, confirming the negative health impacts of e-cigarettes. "E-cigarettes have also led to accidental poisonings and injuries. In recent years, incidents of e-cigarette poisoning have surged, with over half involving children, most of whom are under five years old. Lithium batteries in e-cigarettes can explode when excessively heated by external sources. Nicotine e-liquids may also be misused by individuals attempting suicide," Xia Yinghua said.

Regarding the common belief that e-cigarettes can help quit traditional cigarettes, Xia Yinghua stated that there is currently insufficient scientific evidence to confirm the smoking cessation efficacy of e-cigarettes. She urged relevant authorities to establish laws and regulations based on sufficient scientific evidence to promote health.