Hawaii raises smoking age to 21; military supports new law

“There must be other components in the e-cigarettes that are doing this damage”.

E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that convert a concentrated mixture of liquid nicotine, flavoring and various chemicals into vapor inhaled by the user.

Dr Jessica Wang-Rodriguez, professor of pathology at the university in San Diego, said: “Our study strongly suggests that electronic cigarettes are not as safe as their marketing makes them appear”.

Other tobacco control measures it is looking to implement include reducing the appeal of tobacco products through standardised packaging without any promotional information like trademarks, logos, colour schemes and imagery. So far, the e-cigarette industry has remained largely unregulated, despite concern from public health officials who say the health impacts of e-cigs are uncertain.

In 2011, China’s Health Ministry banned smoking in all public indoor spaces including hotels and restaurants nationwide but the vague guidelines were often flouted by businesses and individuals.

People will be required to provide identification when they purchase tobacco or electronic smoking products.

Mayo Clinic reproductive and infertility expert Dr. Jani Jensen says, “Although quitting smoking can be very hard, the motivation to become pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy may help some women attempt to quit using tobacco”.

“They try and reduce down the number of cigarettes per day”.

Among the strategies the American Lung Association recommends in preventing young people from start to smoke in the first place is by limiting their ability to buy tobacco products.

Financial consultant Sean Tan, 33, who started smoking at 16, said: “Most people pick up the habit in their teens, with influence from friends”. And while the consumption of alcohol in moderation is considered safe, the same can not be said for tobacco use.

West Virginia has the highest rate of tobacco use in the nation – almost 30 percent of residents use tobacco.

The free NHS service is urging smokers to get in touch before the New Year as those who quit with support are four times as likely as those who go it alone to stay smoke-free for at least 12 months.

But tobacco firms have argued against such a move, claiming, for instance, that standardised packaging is easier to counterfeit and may spur an increase in illegal cigarettes.