As the country marks 20 years since the introduction of the Smoking Ban, the Dublin MEP has written to the Minister for Health and the Minister for the Environment spelling out the opportunity to show the same courage and initiative in relation to vaping.
“While I welcome the recent ban on selling vapes to minors, it doesn’t go nearly far enough. Efforts so far limit the use of vapes are not working. Walk down any street in cities and towns across Ireland and you quickly come across plastic vapes discarded on paths, roadsides, in parks, under trees and lamp posts, in canals and on beaches. It also remains the case that those under 25 account for the highest usage of vapes,” said MEP Andrews.
“The fact that it is still perfectly legal to vape indoors in Ireland, in restaurants, bars and workplaces is totally unacceptable. I understand that banning vapes is a radical move. But we, in Ireland, are not afraid to take radical measures to protect future generations from the harmful impact of tobacco products. This week marks 20 years since Micheál Martin introduced the ground-breaking Smoking Ban, which has saved 1,500 lives every single year since its introduction. We can lead the way on this issue too.
“Disposable vapes contain lithium batteries which are highly toxic and harmful to the environment. When disposed of improperly, they leach toxic chemicals into the soil and water, posing a significant threat to our ecosystems. Most disposable vapes contain metals which can take years to decompose. They also contain plastic which never fully decomposes. It turns into “microplastics,” or tiny pieces of plastic, which continue to pollute the environment and pollute our food and drinking water.
“We are yet to fully understand the harmful impact of vaping on human health but the warning signs are stark. Research here in Ireland already shows that acute effects may include poisonings, burns, asthmatic attacks and stress to the brain, heart and lungs. The Irish Heart Foundation and the Irish Cancer Society have flagged the potential risks, particularly regarding lung inflammation and DNA damage.
“The time for tinkering around the edges of a ban has long-since passed. By failing to introduce an outright ban on these harmful products, we are walking younger generations into an environmental and health crisis that is entirely avoidable.”
