U.S. military exchanges have stopped selling e-cigarettes and all vape-related products, officials said Tuesday amid growing fears over the products’ health effects.
All Army and Air Force Exchange Service and Navy Exchange facilities ceased sales of the products this month. The move was first announced late last month as reports of vaping-related deaths and illnesses mounted across the country.
“The vapor that users inhale can contain ultrafine particles, carcinogens, volatile organic compounds and heavy metals,” said Public Health Service Capt. Kimberly Elenberg, director of Total Force Fitness for the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. “Vaping is not harmless, and researchers are still trying to understand the long-term impacts and health effects from inhaling the vapor.”
While vaping products had been cast as a safer alternative to cigarettes and other more traditional items, military officials said the jury is still out on whether that’s actually true.
“E-cigarettes generally contain less chemicals compared to traditional products like cigarettes, but since the long-term effects of vaping are unknown and not understood, there is not enough information at this time to make a determination on whether it is safer or healthier than other tobacco products,” Capt. Elenberg said.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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