No more vaping in Oklahoma public schools. On Monday, April 15th Governor Kevin Stitt signed into law Senate Bill 33, otherwise known as the Tobacco-Free Schools Act. After conducting a study last fall, Owasso’s Senator J.J. Dossett filed legislation to ban all tobacco products, including vaping. It includes noncombustible devices as well as the cartridges even if they do not contain nicotine. Studies show kids get addicted to nicotine which can harm their still-developing brains, such as decision making and impulse control.
Senator Dossett says it's not just nicotine that's the problem because the aerosol in e-cigarettes contain other “alarming” chemicals such as Diacetyl used in the flavoring that's linked to an irreversible and serious lung condition called “obliterative bronchiolitis”. Findings published in an American Heart Association journal suggests that e-cigarette flavorings may damage blood vessels and the heart and found pyrazine additives in ecigarettes. Heavy metals including nickel, chromium, cadium, tin, aluminum, and lead have been found and can cause cancers of the lung, sinuses, and mouth. Studies are also looking at how secondhand vapors effect people.
At the same time, there are critics including leaders and scientists who say studies prove smokeless tobacco has lowered incidences of cancer and has reduced smoking. Professor Martin Jarvis of University College London is a leading international authority on nicotine psycho-pharmacology, said the following:
“The evidence of a pronounced health benefit from oral tobacco is very strong and can no longer be ignored. The consumption of nicotine through snus in Sweden has greatly reduced smoking, and that in turn has caused a significant reduction in the cancer, cardiovascular disease and lung damage caused by smoking. It makes no sense scientifically or ethically to deny access to this much less dangerous alternative to cigarettes to smokers elsewhere in Europe.
Some say its just bad vaping science, and perhaps a way to help the dinosaurs of the smoking industry. What do you think? Comment below!
