DEAR Editor,-
I would like to request that the Herald publishes an article on the smoking of e-cigarettes and the dangers involved. I have been to a couple of clubs, associations and organisations on the South Coast where it has become ‘legal’ for smokers to smoke e-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes) indoors. Some friends and I are showing severe reactions to the smoke being exhaled from these e-cigarettes and as an asthma sufferer, it appears to be affecting me quite adversely.
The management of these public places is a little slow to act on requests from the public to ban these e-cigarette smokers from smoking indoors.
The Health Department has already stated that no form of smoking is allowed indoors or in public areas and according to the FDA, these e-cigarettes are currently ‘not sufficiently tested’ and ‘contain harmful toxins’. Google this on the Internet.
I think that because of it being such a new product on the market, there is uncertainty about the legality of smoking e-cigarettes publicly and it would really be appreciated if the Herald could publish both the legal implications of e-cigarette smoking inside of public property, as well as the health hazards to clear this issue up for the management of all public outlets.
HEIDI VAN ASWEGEN
