Page 19 - HOH

A28 SCIENCE
Thursday 4 april 2019
U.S. investigates seizure risk with electronic cigarettes

By MATTHEW PERRONE being used with drugs like
AP Health Writer marijuana and amphet-
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. amines. Some seizures were
health officials are investi- reported after just a few
gating whether electronic puffs of the device, others
cigarettes may trigger sei- after a day of use.
zures in some people who The FDA is asking consum-
use the nicotine-vaping ers to report problems to an
devices. online site. The agency is
The Food and Drug Ad- seeking details about vap-
ministration said Wednes- ing brands and models and
day it has reviewed 35 re- whether users who have
ports of seizures among e- experienced problems
cigarettes users, mainly in were also taking medica-
young people. Regulators tions, supplements or other
stressed it’s not yet clear drugs.
whether vaping is respon- It’s not the first time the FDA
sible. But they said they’re has flagged a potential
concerned and encour- health hazard with vaping
aged the public to report devices — the agency has
information about the issue. warned of rare burns and
These cases warrant “inves- explosions related to over-
tigation into whether there heating of batteries that
is in fact a connection,” In this April 10, 2018, file photo, a high school principal displays vaping devices that were power the devices.
FDA Commissioner Scott confiscated from students in such places as restrooms or hallways at the school in Massachusetts. The latest concern comes
Gottlieb said in a state- Associated Press amid a nationwide push
ment. Gottlieb is stepping issues with foods, supple- ditionally, many refillable seconds or minutes and to fight underage use of
down on Friday after near- ments and other consumer e-cigarettes can be used rarely cause permanent in- e-cigarettes, which have
ly two years heading the products can go unrecog- with nicotine formulas of jury. But they can be a sign surged in popularity among
agency. nized because reporting is varying strength. of underlying neurological high school and middle
Cases go back to 2010 and voluntary. Nicotine poisoning can disorders that need medi- school students. Last month
were reported to the FDA Most e-cigarettes heat a cause seizures, convulsions, cal attention. the FDA outlined new re-
or poison control centers flavored nicotine solution vomiting and brain injury. The agency said the hand- strictions on retail and on-
around the country. Regu- into an inhalable vapor. The FDA has previously ful of seizure reports often line sales of most flavored
lators said they detected The battery-powered de- warned of potentially fatal lack information about the e-cigarettes. Meanwhile,
an uptick in reports begin- vices have grown into a nicotine poisoning in infants brand of e-cigarette or local and state officials are
ning mid-2018. While they multibillion dollar industry and children who acciden- whether users had a medi- considering age restric-
represent a tiny fraction of though there are few stan- tally swallowed nicotine so- cal condition that might tions, taxes and flavor bans
Americans who have used dards, including how much lutions. have contributed. In some to keep the products away
e-cigarettes, many safety nicotine they deliver. Ad- Seizures usually last a few cases, e-cigarettes were from teenagers.q

U.N. report: Extreme weather

hit 62 million people in 2018

By SETH BORENSTEIN good example, but is too recent to be in
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United Nations’ the report, Taalas said.
weather agency says extreme weather The past four years were the warmest on
last year hit 62 million people worldwide record, according the to the report. That
and forced 2 million people to relocate, includes 2018, the warmest La Nina year
as man-made climate change worsened. on record, Taalas said. La Nina, a natural
The World Meteorological Organization’s cooling of parts of the Pacific Ocean that
annual state of global climate report says changes weather worldwide, usually cools
Earth is nearly 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1 global temperature a bit.
degree Celsius) warmer than when the in- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
In this Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018 file photo, tourists walk in the dustrial age started. World leaders are try- called on global leaders to convene in
flooded St. Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy, as rainstorms and
strong winds hit the area. ing to limit warming to 3.6 degrees (2 de- September with plans to reduce emissions.
Associated Press grees Celsius). “I’m telling leaders, don’t come with a
Emissions from burning fuels such as coal, speech, come with a plan,” Guterres said.
gasoline and diesel for electricity and Guterres said climate change is a security
transportation are contributing to global and health issue for the world.
warming that in turn brings more intense “The impact on public health is escalat-
storms, floods and droughts. ing,” Guterres said. “The combination of
“We have seen a growing amount of di- extreme heat and air pollution is proving
sasters because of climate change,” said increasingly dangerous.”
WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas. He The 44-page report says:
said since 1998, about 4.5 billion around —Floods affected 35 million people.
the world have been hurt by extreme —Drought hit another 9 million people,
weather. adding to the problem of growing enough
Cyclone Idai that just hit Mozambique is a food to feed the world.q