La sigaretta elettronica e la sanità pubblica: una sfida per promuovere e tutelare la salute

[Autom. eng. transl.] The use of the electronic cigarette and more generally of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) is spreading rapidly in the European population and in particular among smokers. Since these are new tools, the knowledge on health risks related to their use is evolving but currently limited. This raises the need to intervene with regulatory tools that must be developed progressively and in parallel with the acquisition of new scientific knowledge. The article discusses the various critical issues for the protection of health at the moment about the electronic cigarette and its use and identifies the monitoring of the phenomenon, the promotion of independent research, the authoritative and appropriate communication about knowledge and risks as essential areas of intervention. regulatory and regulatory harmonization at international and, above all, European level. The multiple values linked to the spread of the electronic cigarette also propose a reflection on the models to be adopted for public health