Undesirable events during electronic cigarette use prior to the implementation of Article 20 of the European Union Tobacco Products Directive: Findings from the EUREST-PLUS ITC Europe Surveys

Kyriakos, Christina N.Filippidis, Filippos T.Hitchman, SaraGirvalaki, CharisTzavara, CharaDemjén, TiborFernández Muñoz, EsteveMons, UteTrofor, AntigonaTountas, YannisZatoński, MateuszZatoński, WitoldFong, Geoffrey T.Vardavas, Constantine I.EUREST-PLUS consortium2020-12-212020-12-212018-01-01https://hdl.handle.net/2445/172766Introduction: Article 20 of the European Union (EU) Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) sets forth provisions on electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) product regulation, such as child-proof packaging and protection against e-liquid refilling without leakage. The aim of the current study was to examine frequencies and correlates of experiencing undesirable events during e-cigarette use related to e-cigarette product design parameters prior to the implementation of the EU TPD. Material and Methods: The EUREST-PLUS ITC Europe Wave 1 survey was conducted with adult cigarette smokers from June to September 2016 across Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Spain. Results: Among our sample of adult cigarette smokers, one in five reported having ever used e-cigarettes. Prevalence of current e-cigarette use (daily or weekly) was very low (1.5%). Major undesirable events, such as battery exploding or catching fire (1.9%) or overheating (11%) were uncommon. Among those reporting at least monthly use and whose usual/current brand has a tank that you fill with liquids, 18.8% experienced spilling during refill and 18.5% experienced e-liquid leaking during use. Nearly one-quarter reported that the e-liquid cap was easy for a child to open. Conclusions: In light of the EU TPD establishing standards around e-cigarette design parameters to mitigate undesirable events and risks during e-cigarette use, these findings further support the need for its implementation, as well as for monitoring undesirable events experienced during e-cigarette use once Article 20 is fully implemented.1 p.application/pdfengcc by (c) Kyriakos et al., 2018http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/Cigarretes electròniquesIndústria tabaqueraUnió EuropeaElectronic cigarettesTobacco industryEuropean UnionUndesirable events during electronic cigarette use prior to the implementation of Article 20 of the European Union Tobacco Products Directive: Findings from the EUREST-PLUS ITC Europe Surveysinfo:eu-repo/semantics/article2020-12-04info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess