Perceptions about e-cigarette safety may lead to e-smoking during pregnancy

Introduction:
This text discusses a study examining perceptions of the safety of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) during pregnancy. The study compares these perceptions to those of tobacco cigarettes and their associated health risks. The authors highlight the potential dangers of e-cigarette use during pregnancy due to nicotine exposure and advocate for labeling e-cigarettes as potentially harmful during pregnancy.

Key Points:

* The study uses a modified Global Health Youth Survey to gather data from 184 participants, including questions about tobacco and e-cigarette use and perceptions of health risks (WHO, <http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/gyts/en/>).
* Younger people are more likely to have tried e-cigarettes, while older adults have a higher rate of tobacco cigarette use (p < 10-12).
* Participants perceive e-cigarettes as significantly less dangerous than tobacco cigarettes for lung cancer, pregnancy harm, and quitting difficulty (p < 10-33, p < 10-32, p < 10-10).
* Respondents who tried e-cigarettes were more likely to believe they do not cause lung cancer (p < 10-4).
* E-cigarettes are perceived as less harmful than tobacco cigarettes, even though nicotine has potential links to lung cancer and is the main addictive component of tobacco.
* Perceptions that e-cigarettes are safer may lead women to trade tobacco cigarettes for e-cigarettes during pregnancy, potentially maintaining nicotine habits and exposing the fetus to negative effects.
* The study's sample, consisting of highly educated individuals, suggests that similar perceptions likely exist in the general population.

Main Message:
The text emphasizes the need for further research on the possible effects of e-cigarettes on public health. However, due to the potential risks associated with nicotine exposure during pregnancy, the authors advocate for a label on e-cigarettes to warn against e-smoking, especially during pregnancy. This message underscores the importance of informing the public about the potential risks associated with e-cigarette use, particularly for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women.

Baeza-Loya, Selina, Humsini Viswanath, Asasia Carter, David L. Molfese, Kenia M. Velasquez, Philip R. Baldwin, Daisy G. Y. Thompson-Lake, et al. “Perceptions about E-Cigarette Safety May Lead to e-Smoking during Pregnancy.” Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic 78, no. 3 (September 2014): 243–52. https://doi.org/10.1521/bumc.2014.78.3.243.