5 May 2011
Regional Queenslanders warned e-cigarettes are poison
Queensland Health is warning Queenslanders not to buy e-cigarettes containing liquid
nicotine, following the seizure of more than 70 consignments imported into the country.
Health Protection Directorate Executive Director Sophie Dwyer said Queensland Health
had been advised Queenslanders were buying e-cigarettes from overseas websites and
importing them into Australia.
“E-cigarettes are illegal in Australia,” she said.
“They contain vials of liquid nicotine, which is a very dangerous poison,” she said.
In the past month, the Brisbane North Public Health Unit has seized and destroyed about
70 consignments at Brisbane Airport’s postal screening service. The shipments were
destined for locations across Brisbane and regional areas including Cairns, Gold Coast,
Darling Downs, Logan, Mackay, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Townsville and Wide Bay.
”It is classed as a Schedule 7 dangerous poison under the Australian Standard for the
Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons,” Ms Dwyer said.
“If used inappropriately – or if children get hold of the liquid nicotine – the consequences
can be fatal,” she said.
The World Health Organisation’s International Program on Chemical Safety advises that
10mg of liquid nicotine can kill a child within five minutes of them swallowing it.
“The e-cigarettes are being misleadingly marketed as a safe alternative to cigarettes and as
an aid in withdrawal from tobacco smoking – but this is not the case,” Ms Dwyer said.
“There is no evidence e-cigarettes are effective in helping people to quit smoking.
“There are a range of safe products people can use to help them quit smoking, including
nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers or sublingual (under-the-tongue) tablets,” she
said.
Queensland Health is committed to making Queenslanders Australia’s healthiest people
and has set bold targets to cut smoking by one third.
“Our smoke-free laws regarding both indoor and outdoor smoking lead the nation,” Ms
Dwyer said.
“We also run mass media campaigns, a Quitline service and programs for high-risk
people.”
“Our anti-smoking programs are reducing Queenslanders’ exposure to environmental
tobacco smoke, contributing to a culture that supports smokers trying to quit and
discouraging young people from taking up the habit,” she said.
The latest data shows smoking rates among adults have dropped to 15.5% in 2010 from
22.1 per cent in 2001.
The Queensland Government has recently launched the My Smoking campaign that
targets Queenslanders aged 18 to 24 years who smoke and seeks to prompt young people
to contemplate their smoking and encourage them to quit.
Further information about the campaign is available at
mysmoking - Queensland Health.
ENDS
Editors please note:.
Some audio grabs of Sophie Dwyer are available on request.
Media contact: +617 3234 1439
