Electronic cigarettes are quickly growing in popularity. Ads promote them as a safe alternative to cigarettes. But are e-cigarettes really safe, or do they come with their own health risks? Who uses e-cigarettes and are they recommended for quitting smoking?

Come to the brown bag lunch to get answers to these and any questions you may have about UC’s new smoke and tobacco free policy, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2014. Entitled “Electronic cigarettes: To vape or not to vape?,” the event will be held from 12 to 1 p.m Tuesday, Dec. 10, in 1012 Kaiser.

If you cannot attend in person, the event will be available via ReadyTalk; dial in at 1-866-740-1260 and enter passcode 9879032#. View the presentation online at
https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/previewEmail?id=x0zimcpzgqpn&from=overview&type=EVENT_INVITE#.

Representatives of UCOP’s Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP) will present scientific background about e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products within the context of UC’s system-wide policy.

“E-cigarettes have become very popular, and the overall public perception is that they are 100 percent safe,” said Phil Gardiner, TRDRP research administrator. “But there is research showing that they actually carry some health concerns.”

E-cigarettes use a process called vaping, in which a liquid containing nicotine, propylene glycol or a vegetable glycerin–based solution and flavorants are heated and inhaled. The user exhales a fog-like vapor that dissipates quickly and has no smell.

UC’s new smoke and tobacco free policy

E-cigarettes are among the products that will be prohibited when UC’s smoke and tobacco free policy goes into effect in January. All UC locations, including UC Office of the President, will join more than 1,100 colleges and universities nationwide in implementing such a policy. Representatives of UCOP’s Risk Services Office will be on hand at the brown bag session to answer questions about the policy.

The new policy applies to all UC campuses, labs and centers and is intended to reduce tobacco and nicotine use and secondhand smoke exposure as well as protect the health of all students, staff, faculty, patients and visitors. It prohibits the use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, snuff, snus, water pipes, pipes, hookahs, chew and any other non-combustible tobacco product.

For more details on TRDRP programs and research, the new UC policy and smoking cessation programs, follow these links:

• UCOP Smoke & Tobacco Free Policy website
• UC Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program
• UC Riverside research on e-cigarettes
• The Great American Smokeout

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