Japanese Professional Organizations Warn That the Risks of Vaping Should Not Be Ignored

Japanese professional organizations, including the Japanese Respiratory Society and the Japan Anti-Smoking Association, have issued statements warning that the risks of vaping should not be ignored. They criticize the government for its lack of restrictions, stating that Japan has become a testing ground for electronic cigarettes.

In a statement titled "The Japanese Respiratory Society's Views on Non-Burning, Heated Tobacco and E-Cigarettes," the society pointed out that using non-burning, heated tobacco and e-cigarettes can also have adverse health effects. The aerosol exhaled by users of non-burning, heated tobacco and e-cigarettes can spread around, posing a risk of health damage from secondhand smoke in public places, including all restaurants, bars, and public transportation facilities, where e-cigarettes should be prohibited.

The statement indicates that it will take a long time to obtain scientific evidence linking new types of cigarettes to disease and mortality risks. Although the mechanisms are not yet clear, reports have shown that non-burning, heated e-cigarettes contain the same levels of nicotine and volatile compounds such as formaldehyde and acrolein as traditional cigarettes, with the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons being three times that of regular cigarettes. The statement expresses concern about the rapid spread of e-cigarettes due to misunderstandings such as "lower health risks compared to traditional combustible cigarettes," "no secondhand smoke risk," and "no visible smoke, so they can be used in non-smoking areas."

The Japan Anti-Smoking Association, in an earlier statement titled "Emergency Warning!! 'Heated E-Cigarettes' Are as Dangerous as Regular Cigarettes," pointed out that the vapor produced by heated e-cigarettes is not water vapor but vapor primarily composed of propylene glycol and other substances. The "Emergency Warning" cites an article published by Swiss scholars in the American Medical Association, indicating that certain e-cigarettes available in Japan contain carcinogens such as formaldehyde, as well as toxic and irritating substances like acrolein and benzaldehyde, at levels comparable to traditional cigarettes. Although e-cigarettes appear to have lower nicotine content, this may lead to compensatory smoking behavior among smokers, meaning that regardless of nicotine content, smokers will continue until the nicotine concentration in their blood reaches a certain level. Therefore, e-cigarettes can pose health risks similar to those of regular cigarettes.