Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Health Ministry has warned the public that e-cigarettes or vaping can pose serious threats to the younger generation. "Vaping is a serious threat to young people in Indonesia. The e-cigarette is not safe for children because it has nicotine and flavorings in the form of aerosols that have seven thousand negative effects," director of prevention and control of non-communicable diseases at the ministry Eva Susanti said here on Wednesday.
During a webinar on “Kolak Ketan 2023,” she explained that e-cigarettes are the same as conventional cigarettes, with equal dangers. E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that can deliver nicotine and flavorings in aerosol form, she said.
Susanti highlighted that the aerosol delivered by e-cigarettes contains harmful substances. "Because there are organic compounds that easily evaporate and fine particles that are damaging," she said.
There are also carcinogenic heavy metals like nickel, lead, and other chemicals, she added. Susanti said that propylene glycol in electronic cigarettes can cause lung and eye irritation, as well as respiratory tract disorders.
Then, the nicotine that has the effect of addiction can lead to depression, dizziness, tremor, lung cancer, atherosclerosis, and death. Nicotine can disturb the development of the brain, which continues to develop until the age of 25.
Not only that, diacetyl, which is an ingredient in the e-cigarettes' flavors, can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). "It is important to stay away from electronic cigarettes because they are very bad for health," she said.
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Susanti also asked underage smokers to use the momentum of Ramadan to stop consuming cigarettes. She said fasting during Ramadan month has many benefits for the body, one of which is neutralizing the effects of cigarettes on the body.
"By fasting, you should be able to stop (smoking), because, within 12 hours after fasting, the effects of a cigarette on the body disappear," she said.
