E-cigarettes are poisoning children at alarming rates. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) findings released in July 2014, calls to poison control centers related to e-cigarette exposure increased from one per month four years ago to 215 per month as of February 2014.
The Ohio AAP is working to introduce legislation on e-cigarettes. Studies show the increasingly popular electronic cigarettes can be deadly to young children. In addition, James M. Perrin, MD, FAAP, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, released this statement in April 2014 following the release of the CDC study.
“New data released today (April 3, 2014) from the federal government confirms pediatricians’ concerns about e-cigarettes and their liquid nicotine refills: they are poisoning children at an alarming rate. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) new findings, calls to poison control centers related to e-cigarette exposure increased from one per month four years ago to 215 per month as of February 2014. These new statistics should compel our nation’s leaders to act now to protect children from these dangerous products.
“As pediatricians, we do everything in our power to keep our young patients safe from poisonous products, like household cleaners and prescription medications. Why should we act differently when it comes to liquid nicotine, when the number of children who come into accidental contact with e-cigarettes is on track to outpace the number of children who are exposed to cigarettes each year? Yet, the e-cigarette industry specifically targets children and teens with appealing flavors like cotton candy and gummy bear, and neither these products nor their liquid nicotine refills are currently regulated by the federal government. Toxic household products are required to have child-proof packaging; poisonous liquid nicotine should be no different.
“The release of today’s findings on the growing number of children being poisoned by liquid nicotine calls for bold, immediate action at the highest levels of government. We await and continue to push for needed federal regulations allowing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to oversee e-cigarettes, but the American Academy of Pediatrics urges action now. Pediatricians call on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to convene CDC, FDA and other federal agencies and develop a national plan of action to keep children safe from e-cigarette poisoning. With more and more children being exposed to these dangerous products each month, we cannot afford to wait another day.”
More Resources:
- The Facts on e-Cigarettes for Parents of Young Children
- Ohio AAP Article on the Dangers of E-Cigarettes in Children – Summer 2014 Ohio Pediatrics – Shan Yin, MD, MPH, FAAP
- CDC Study Finds Dramatic Increase in E-Cigarette-Related Calls to Poison Centers – April 3, 2014
- AAP Statement on E-Cigarette Poisoning Data and the Need for Government Action – April 3, 2014
- AAP Statement on Legislation to Require Child-Proof Packaging for Liquid Nicotine – July 10, 2014
- E-Cigarette Advertising to Young Adults Jumps 321 Percent – June 2, 2014
- Young Parents Who Use e-cigarettes Believe Devices Are Safer for Those Around Them Than Regular Cigarettes – Mary 6, 2014
- AAP Welcomes New FDA Proposed Rule on E-Cigarette and Tobacco, Urges Stronger Action to Protect Children and Prevent Child Poisonings – April 24, 2014
- American Academy of Pediatrics State Advocacy FOCUS on E-Cigarettes