The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh welcomes the introduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which has now passed its first hurdle in the House of Commons.
Professor Rowan Parks, President of RCSEd, commented:
"I have no doubt that the impact of this legislation on public health will be incredibly positive.
“Smoking accounts for almost one-fifth of new cancer diagnoses in the UK every year. Decades of evidence has shown that cigarettes release thousands of chemicals when they burn – many are poisonous, affecting day to day health, and cause at least 16 different cancer types.
“Second-hand smoke can also cause serious health problems, with vulnerable members of the population such as children and elderly people being at the greatest risk, due to involuntarily inhaling smoke through passive smoking.
“Vaping has become increasingly popular in recent years, and like smoking, poses severe health risks. Smokers experience a significant proportion of their lives in poorer health than people who do not smoke.
“Any step towards mitigating these potential risk factors is to be welcomed.”
Dean of RCSEd’s Faculty of Dental Surgery, Professor Grant McIntyre, added:
“The impact of smoking extends beyond general health complications and also poses the potential risk to lead to severe dental and oral health complications.
“Evidence has shown that 64% of laryngeal throat cancer and 17% of oral cavity mouth cancer cases in the UK are caused by smoking.
“While the full extent of the impact of vaping is yet to be fully researched, it is evident that vaping is not risk-free. With head and neck cancer rates on the rise - currently ranking as the 8th most common cancer in the UK – it is crucial to incorporate vaping, which poses risks to both general health and dental health, into this Bill.”