By Dr. Peggy Lampkin
Dear Mayor Stewart,
I am writing to request a ban in our fair city of New Britain of all e-cigarettes and vaping, like so many other mayors across the country are doing, but on an emergency level. Here’s why.
First of all, nothing but air should go into your lungs. The ingredients contained in vaping and e-cigarettes are dangerous and can lead to lung disease, lung collapse and death. Let me list a few key ingredients that our kids and young adults are smoking.
Polyglychol, nicotine, color additives – just these ingredients alone can heat up the lungs to 150 degrees causing severe lung disease, coma and lung collapse. Glychol and water are used to help keep the inhalants together. THC is used in some cases along with oil base nicotine instead of water base. There is nothing wrong with Vitamin E, but when cooked, it becomes Vitamin E acetate which breaks down in the lungs. When this happens, molecules then form a type of lipid pneumonia or otherwise known as lipid fat.
30-percent of our kids who vape go on to smoke cigarettes – now a new generation of smokers has been created. Please take this urgent matter up with the City Council and help break the cycle of smoking, vaping along with e-cigarettes.
It has also been brought to my attention that you have a Health Board, on which I would be interested in serving.
Your attention to this matter would whole-heartily be appreciated.
Editor’s note: Dr. Lampkin also sent this letter to members of the City Council.
