To e-smoke or not to e-smoke: is that a question?

Excerpt

The use and regulation of e-cigarettes is hotly debated and the World Health Organization WHO, as the global authority for public health, has come under pressure from both pro-e-cigarette as well as contra-e-cigarette advocates,^{1 , 2} In contrast to the traditional tobacco debate with the public health research community arguing on one, and the tobacco industry and its constituencies on the other side, the current stage of the e-cigarette debate finds honest and independent public health scientists on both sides. Although it is obvious which one the tobacco and e-cigarette industries applaud (see Footnote 1), the more interesting question is why the public health community does not yet speak with “one voice”. In this issue, IJPH has invited two commentaries—both written by independent public health scientists—to express their current views (Flahault and Etter 2014; McKee 2014). Flahault and Etter were among the 53 signatories of the “pro” letter (see Footnote 1) sent to WHO whereas McKee was among the 129 signatories of the “contra” letter (see Footnote 2) sent in reaction to the first one. …