The "sweet trap" of new-generation cigarettes.

On World No Tobacco Day (May 31, 2026), the international health community issued urgent warnings about the new wave of tobacco products. These products are not only destroying the lungs of young people, but are also silently leaving irreparable scars on the global environment.

The numbers speak volumes about a generation under siege.

According to data recently released by the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP), approximately 40 million young people worldwide are currently using traditional cigarettes, and even more alarmingly, up to 15 million teenagers have become addicted to e-cigarettes (vapes). The visually appealing devices and the fruity or candy-flavored vapors create a perfect image to mask the highly addictive nature of nicotine.

Preventing early childhood addiction has become a vital public health battle. Experts emphasize that every child has the right to be protected from the harmful effects of tobacco and secondhand smoke.

In particular, SIOP offered a poignant perspective by drawing attention to vulnerable groups, pediatric cancer patients, and children fortunate enough to survive serious illnesses. For these children, cigarette smoke or nicotine is not just an ordinary toxin, but a "sentence upon sentence," posing a high risk of exacerbating health complications and undermining long-term treatment efforts.

Experts emphasize that every child has the right to be protected from the harmful effects of tobacco and secondhand smoke.

The "greenwashing" tactic of the smoke industry.

For decades, the tobacco industry has instilled a classic misconception in consumers' minds: that filters make cigarettes safer. However, ahead of this year's World No Tobacco Day, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) have frankly exposed this truth.

In fact, filters do not help reduce harm. On the contrary, they increase the risk of lung adenocarcinoma by stimulating users to inhale toxic fumes deeper into the peripheral lung tissues.

Beyond harming the body, billions of discarded cigarette filters and disposable vape devices thrown away every day are becoming an environmental disaster. They top the list of ocean plastic waste, decomposing extremely slowly, breaking down into microplastic particles that pollute soil and water sources, and leaking nicotine that poisons marine life.

To counter public opinion, tobacco corporations have launched cigarette filter collection and recycling programs under the guise of "Extended Manufacturer Responsibility" (EPR). However, according to experts, this is merely a sophisticated "greenwashing" campaign aimed at polishing a friendly image, undermining advertising bans, and evading financial responsibility by these toxic financial tycoons.

Besides their direct impact on health, tobacco products and nicotine also degrade the environment through waste, pollution, and emissions.

Slogans must be accompanied by legal action.

At the recent 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, countries were urged to adopt the most comprehensive and forceful control measures possible.

Sharing his views on a fundamental solution to this problem, Dr. Filippos Filippidis, Chairman of the Tobacco Control Committee of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and Associate Professor of Public Health at Imperial College London (UK), affirmed: "Besides the direct impact on health, tobacco products and nicotine also degrade the environment through waste, pollution, and emissions. Gradually eliminating and eventually banning cigarette filters, along with disposable electronic nicotine delivery systems, is the only way to minimize and ultimately eliminate the enormous environmental burden these products are causing."

Clearly, the filter is designed to enhance the taste and appeal of the cigarette. Eliminating this "deadly allure" through a complete ban is key to halting the supply and reducing tobacco access among school-aged children.

To protect the future, the international community, including Vietnam, needs to take more decisive action, such as: tightening regulations on online marketing targeting young people, enforcing stricter legal regulations on new-generation tobacco products, and prioritizing preventative education . It's time to strip away the glamorous facade of tobacco and restore a healthy environment for future generations.

Source: ginasthma.org

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/chiec-bay-ngot-ngao-tu-thuoc-la-the-he-moi-238260531105001648.htm