The key facts

  • Pulmonologist Yevgeny Popov: vape vapor irritates the lungs less, so people take more puffs, and the volume of harmful substances is no less than from tobacco.
  • Vapes contribute to nicotine addiction and make it harder to control nicotine consumption, increasing the risk of hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and peptic ulcer disease.
  • From March 1, 2027 to March 1, 2032, Russian regions will be able to temporarily ban retail sales of vapes and liquids — the law was signed by Vladimir Putin at the end of June.

Vapes are as harmful as regular cigarettes

Smoking electronic cigarettes leads to the intake of no fewer harmful substances into the body than regular tobacco smoking. This was reported to RIA Novosti by Yevgeny Popov, pulmonologist and head of the advisory and diagnostic center of the National Medical Research Center for Phthisiopulmonology and Infectious Diseases of the Russian Health Ministry. According to him, one of the main dangers is that vape vapor does not irritate the lungs as strongly as tobacco smoke, as a result of which people may take more puffs, and the risk of receiving harmful substances remains no less than from regular tobacco smoking.

Risks to the heart and gastrointestinal tract

Popov also noted that smoking electronic cigarettes contributes to the development of nicotine addiction and makes it difficult to control the amount of nicotine consumed. This increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension and ischemic heart disease. In addition, vapes can negatively affect other organs, including the gastrointestinal tract, and increase the risk of peptic ulcer disease of the stomach and duodenum.

Regions will get the right to ban vape sales

At the end of June, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law granting Russian regions, from March 1, 2027 to March 1, 2032, the right to introduce a temporary ban on the retail sale of vapes, other electronic nicotine delivery systems, and liquids for them in their territory. Russian regions that establish such a ban are required to inform Rosalkogoltabakkontrol. Earlier, Gennady Onishchenko called for banning vapes throughout Russia.