By Danny O. Calleja
LEGAZPI CITY, July 15 (PIA) -- The city government here is also mulling to ban the use of electronic cigarettes in pursuit of its smoke-free campaign.
Mayor Noel Rosal said the move is intended to strengthen the city government’s fight against smoking in public places and prevent second-hand exposure of non-smokers to harmful substances.
“We intend to put more teeth in our campaign by including e-cigarettes in the ban provided under the Revised Smoke-Free Ordinance which we have been strictly enforcing since 2009,” Rosal said.
Rosal explained that in banning e-cigarettes the city government will be consistent with the provisions of Republic Act No. 7394, otherwise known as The Consumer Act of the Philippines and guided by its mandate in protecting public health.
“We in the city government are fully aware of the hazards being posed by cigarettes not only to smokers but also more to non-smokers who are exposed to its fumes,” the mayor said.
An e-cigarette also known as personal vaporizer is an electronic inhaler that vaporizes a liquid solution into an aerosol mist, simulating the act of tobacco smoking.
Earlier, the regional office for Bicol of the Dept. of Health advised that this gadget should not be considered as substitute to typical tobacco products since it still emits smoke that contains harmful substances.
E-cigarettes contain volatile organic substances -- including propylene glycol, flavors and nicotine – that are emitted as mist or aerosol into indoor air, the DOH said.
Study also showed that these ultra-fine liquid particles of less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter may penetrate deeply into the lungs.
These e-cigarettes produce substantially fewer ultra-fine particles than conventional cigarettes, however, the substances emitted may be inhaled by non-users when used indoor and lead to adverse health effects.
If several people are using e-cigarettes in a room at the same time, considerable indoor air pollution will accumulate and may result in harmful second-hand exposure.
The levels of most harmful substances are lower in the e-cigarettes than in conventional cigarette smoke, but they do accumulate in indoor air.
The city government, Rosal said, wants the public, especially the youth, not to start smoking at all and those who are already tobacco-hooked, to stop the vice using cigarettes, cigars or e-cigarettes,” he added.
“We mean business in this anti-smoking drive not only that we are recognized nationwide as one of the few local government units (LGUs) fostering a 100-percent tobacco-free environment, but also because we are firm in our commitment towards public health,” Rosal said.
This, Rosal said, is for the sake of the Legazpeños and of the thousands who come to our place either as tourists, shoppers, businessmen, dignitaries, students or even passers-by.
The city is one of the leading tourist destinations in the country, the government center for Bicol and the region’s center of education, health services, trade and commerce and public transportation.
It is now emerging as a favorite venue for national and international conventions and conferences.
For its consistency in its anti-tobacco drive, the city has been a Hall of Famer in the Red Orchid Awards of the DOH for becoming its recipient for three consecutive years from 2010 to 2012.
The award is DOH’s yearly salutation to LGUs and other public institutions that are successful in their measures to rid their environment of cigarette smoking. (DOC-LGU Legazpi City/MAL/PIA5)
LEGAZPI CITY, July 15 (PIA) -- The city government here is also mulling to ban the use of electronic cigarettes in pursuit of its smoke-free campaign.
Mayor Noel Rosal said the move is intended to strengthen the city government’s fight against smoking in public places and prevent second-hand exposure of non-smokers to harmful substances.
“We intend to put more teeth in our campaign by including e-cigarettes in the ban provided under the Revised Smoke-Free Ordinance which we have been strictly enforcing since 2009,” Rosal said.
Rosal explained that in banning e-cigarettes the city government will be consistent with the provisions of Republic Act No. 7394, otherwise known as The Consumer Act of the Philippines and guided by its mandate in protecting public health.
“We in the city government are fully aware of the hazards being posed by cigarettes not only to smokers but also more to non-smokers who are exposed to its fumes,” the mayor said.
An e-cigarette also known as personal vaporizer is an electronic inhaler that vaporizes a liquid solution into an aerosol mist, simulating the act of tobacco smoking.
Earlier, the regional office for Bicol of the Dept. of Health advised that this gadget should not be considered as substitute to typical tobacco products since it still emits smoke that contains harmful substances.
E-cigarettes contain volatile organic substances -- including propylene glycol, flavors and nicotine – that are emitted as mist or aerosol into indoor air, the DOH said.
Study also showed that these ultra-fine liquid particles of less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter may penetrate deeply into the lungs.
These e-cigarettes produce substantially fewer ultra-fine particles than conventional cigarettes, however, the substances emitted may be inhaled by non-users when used indoor and lead to adverse health effects.
If several people are using e-cigarettes in a room at the same time, considerable indoor air pollution will accumulate and may result in harmful second-hand exposure.
The levels of most harmful substances are lower in the e-cigarettes than in conventional cigarette smoke, but they do accumulate in indoor air.
The city government, Rosal said, wants the public, especially the youth, not to start smoking at all and those who are already tobacco-hooked, to stop the vice using cigarettes, cigars or e-cigarettes,” he added.
“We mean business in this anti-smoking drive not only that we are recognized nationwide as one of the few local government units (LGUs) fostering a 100-percent tobacco-free environment, but also because we are firm in our commitment towards public health,” Rosal said.
This, Rosal said, is for the sake of the Legazpeños and of the thousands who come to our place either as tourists, shoppers, businessmen, dignitaries, students or even passers-by.
The city is one of the leading tourist destinations in the country, the government center for Bicol and the region’s center of education, health services, trade and commerce and public transportation.
It is now emerging as a favorite venue for national and international conventions and conferences.
For its consistency in its anti-tobacco drive, the city has been a Hall of Famer in the Red Orchid Awards of the DOH for becoming its recipient for three consecutive years from 2010 to 2012.
The award is DOH’s yearly salutation to LGUs and other public institutions that are successful in their measures to rid their environment of cigarette smoking. (DOC-LGU Legazpi City/MAL/PIA5)
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