Malaysia Public Health Expert Calls for Stringent Laws on Flavored E-Cigarettes to Protect Youth

According to The Sun's report on June 27th, Professor Dr. Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, an expert in public health medicine at the National University of Malaysia, recently stated that laws should be enacted to prohibit e-cigarettes, especially those containing caffeine.

She suggested legislation to restrict the types and flavors of e-cigarettes, similar to Denmark, Estonia, and Slovenia where only tobacco and mint flavored e-cigarettes can be sold. Alternatively, like Australia, e-cigarettes could only be sold with a prescription and flavors limited to tobacco, mint, and menthol.

Izat further stated that currently over 30 countries worldwide have banned the sale of e-cigarettes as consumer products, meaning flavored e-cigarettes are not allowed to be sold.

She pointed out that flavored e-cigarettes may attract young people to become interested in them, as the smoking experience is enjoyable and customizable, which could increase the likelihood of them developing a smoking habit.

Izat stated that laws should also mandate the disclosure of nicotine concentration and ingredients, and impose strict quality control on e-cigarettes to prevent the addition of highly harmful additives and mixtures, such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabinol, or synthetic drugs.

She also called for strict regulation and publicity of the use of e-cigarettes to deliver compounds such as vitamins.

The United States FDA classifies caffeine as a drug and food additive, widely used in various beverages, with a recommended maximum daily intake of 400mg. However, an increasing number of male and female students in Malaysia are becoming dependent on caffeine-containing e-cigarettes, especially coffee-flavored ones, putting them at high risk for health issues.

Caffeine is the most commonly used drug in the world, being utilized both as a prescription and over-the-counter medication. It is known for its ability to boost alertness, combat fatigue, and enhance the effects of certain pain medications. When inhaled through smoking, it can produce similar effects to other stimulants, but due to the potential presence of harmful additives such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the risks are higher, which can lead to heart disease, palpitations, and insomnia.

Some sellers add vitamin E acetate to enhance the flavor, but volatile organic compounds are harmful and may be released from the flavored e-cigarette liquid, especially in coffee-flavored e-cigarette liquids.

In addition, Izzat stated that inhaling caffeine through e-cigarettes directly into the lungs may cause irritation, inflammation, and other respiratory issues.

High doses of caffeine are concerning because it is a strong stimulant that can increase heart rate and blood pressure. In theory, this could lead to serious cardiovascular issues, such as cardiac arrest. While such high doses may not be obtained from regular e-cigarette use, the risks of illness still need to be a cause for concern.