HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1091.120 2012-2014Murashige, Laura
From: Forrest Batz <fbatz@hawaii.edu>
Sent: Friday, December 12, 2014 3:23 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony in SUPPORT of Bill 302, Relating to Electronic Smoking Devices
Attachments: Bill 302 letter of SUPPORT- Hawaii County Council.pdf
Aloha Hawai'i County Council,
Please find attached testimony in support of Hawaii County Council Bill 302.
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Forrest Batz, PharmD
Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice
The Daniel K Inouye College of Pharmacy
University of Hawaii at Hilo
34 Rainbow Drive, Hilo, HI 96720
office: 808.932.7703
fbatz(g)hawaii.edu.
http://pharmacy.uhh.hawaii.edu
Comm. Q
Ref. To:
Ref. Date i 1:p 1 7 7014
12 December, 2014
Aloha Hawaii County Council,
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I am writing to express my strong support for Hawaii County Bill 302 to integrate electronic smoking
devices (ESD) into all Hawaii County Smoke -Free and Tobacco -Free ordinances. Using an ESD is a persons
choice, but not a choice for an innocent bystander who inhales secondhand ESD aerosol.
Evidence is clear that ESDs emit more than "harmless water vapor". Secondhand aerosol (vapor) contains
nicotine, ultrafine particles, low levels of toxins known to cause cancer, as well as lead and other metal
particles from the internal ESD mechanism. Short-term exposure to ESD aerosol can cause eye, throat, and
airway irritation. Long-term exposure can cause asthma attacks. People with breathing disabilities can
experience worsening of their conditions when exposed to ESD aerosol.
ESDs are unregulated. ESD manufacturers are not required to disclose what chemicals are in their products,
where they are produced, how they are made, or the potential health risks they pose. There is no credible
evidence proving that ESDs are a safe or effective smoking cessation method and ESD's are not approved
for tobacco cessation therapy. ESDs carry disclaimers similar to: This product does not cure or prevent any
disease and is not a smoking cessation device. Keep this device out of children's reach.
Skin exposure to nicotine -containing e -liquids ("juices") by infants and children is toxic and can be deadly.
Over the past two years, reported nicotine poisoning of young children has increased by 219%. Use of ESDs
among middle school and high school students has increased three -fold since 2011. In West Hawaii, 75% or
more of middle school students have tried ESDs.
The Hawai'i Island community has worked diligently to protect our maka'ainana from the harmful effects of
second-hand smoke. We have made great strides in protecting keiki from exposure to, and harm from,
combustible cigarettes. It is vital that we prevent harm from ESDs to our children and community.
As a health professional, educator, scientist and father of a teen, I urge you to help ensure that the places
where we work and play are healthy places to be... free from ESD aerosol... and free from the exposure of our
youth to behaviors that encourage addictive and unsafe behavior.
Please support Bill 302 for the health of our keiki and community.
Respectfully submitted,
Forrest Batz, PharmD
Keaau, HI
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
The Daniel K Inouye College of Pharmacy
University of Hawaii at Hilo
808.932.7703 (office)
fbatz@hawaii.edu
Murashige, Laura
From:
Forrest Batz <fbatz@hawaii.edu>
Sent:
Monday, December 15, 2014 9:26 AM
To:
Council Testimony
Subject: Strong Support for Bill 302, Relating to Electronic Smoking Devices
To:
County Council Chair DruKanuha and Hawai'i County Council Members
—
=`
Re:
Strong Support for Bill 302, Relating to Electronic Smoking Devices
Hrg: Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at 9:00 am at the West Hawaii Civic Center in Kailua-Kona
Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in strong support of Bill 302. 1 strongly support prohibiting the use of
Electronic Smoking Devices (ESD), also known as electronic cigarettes or e -cigarettes, in places open to the public and
places of employment.
I support including "electronic smoking devices" in the definition of "tobacco product" and "smoke or smoking" in the
County of Hawaii, and to prohibit the use of ESD in the places where smoking is prohibited.
Including ESD will protect the public, reduce confusion within society, decrease distractions in the workplace, and
maintain the social norm. Recent news coverage of the Hawaii youth tobacco survey showed a dramatic increase in
youth using ESD in Hawaii. And, Hawaii now has the highest rate of ESD use among youth in the US. The social norming
of ESD and the claims that these products are harmless contribute to high youth rates.
ESD are currently unregulated and emit unregulated levels of chemicals into the air. Scientific evidence is clear that
electronic smoking devices do not emit harmless water vapor, but rather, a harmful aerosol that contains nicotine, ultra -
fine particles and toxins known to cause cancer.
I urge you to pass Bill 302 in order to provide protection for the public. Failing to act may set the health of our keiki and
community back decades.
Mahalo
Forrest Batz
34 Rainbow Drive
Keaau, HI 96749