The problem of “e-cigarettes” is getting more and more problematic every day. Now it has become an addictive product that is currently prevalent among children and youths, including creating a significant impact on the “environment”.
“E-cigarette” are a type of smoking device that uses an electrical mechanism to create heat and vapor that contains various chemicals, without the smoke from the combustion process like regular cigarettes. There are 3 main components that make it work: a battery, heat (Atomizer) and liquid. The liquid is converted to vapor and enters the smoker’s body.
Of course, even though it is a new smoking device, it still has a huge impact on health, no different from regular cigarettes. Because the chemicals in the liquid can cause harm. In addition, there is research that has been published that the vapor of “e-cigarettes” has a smaller particle size than regular cigarettes, allowing them to be inhaled deeper into the lungs. These small particles will stick to the lung tissue and be absorbed into the bloodstream quickly, making it difficult for the body’s natural mechanisms to expel them. The danger that is different from the old regular cigarettes is its “newness”.
Since “e-cigarettes” are a new type of smoking device, there is not enough research data on the dangers of e-cigarettes and the chemicals used.
The impact of e-cigarettes on the environment
On November 6, 2024, Dr. Phanumas Yanawetsakul, Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, revealed that the outbreak of e-cigarettes in England is facing the problem of single-use e-cigarette waste, causing the amount of plastic waste and electronic waste to increase by almost four times. More than 40 tons of lithium-ion batteries from e-cigarettes have been dumped into the environment, causing heavy metals in e-cigarettes, such as lead and mercury, to leak into the environment, accumulate and contaminate water, poisoning living things and wildlife, creating toxic residues and destroying the ecosystem.
England, which has encountered the problem of e-cigarette waste, has issued a law to “ban the sale of single-use e-cigarettes”.
Effective from June 1, 2025 onwards, Thailand’s measures are similar, namely, banning the import, production and sale of e-cigarettes. Although there are laws prohibiting the import and sale, Thailand currently has more people using e-cigarettes every day.
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