Toronto Public Health says the federal government must do more to prevent young people from vaping.
The recommendations in the unit’s report, which was released Monday, include banning vaping advertising in all places accessible by minors, prohibiting the sale of flavoured vape products in stores accessible by minors, and setting a nicotine limit for all vape products.
TPH is also calling on the city to amend existing smoking bylaws to also cover vaping.
“We need to create environments that prevent people from using these products and reduce the appeal to youth,” said Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health.
“More actions are needed to further protect the public from the health risks associated with these products.”
The report comes amid concerns that Canadians are becoming increasingly addicted to vaping and e-cigarettes. Statistics show that around a quarter of all Canadian high school students vape.
Some public health experts say the initial strategy to promote vaping as a safer alternative to cigarette smoking has backfired, since many cigarette smokers have not made the switch.
There are also growing concerns that vaping may be causing a serious form of lung damage that is still not entirely understood.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has documented 2,290 lung injury cases and 47 deaths associated with vaping. Canadian officials have confirmed four such cases and no deaths.
Ontario has already introduced legislation to ban vaping advertising in convenience stores and gas stations begining in January.
The TPH report will go to the city’s board of health meeting on Monday, Dec. 9.
