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Vape pen. Shutterstock/Lifestyle discover

As vaping-linked injuries and deaths rise in the US, some Irish colleges are moving towards an all-out ban

18 deaths and 1080 injuries in the US have been linked to vaping.

TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN’s tobacco policy group is assessing the benefits and risks of vaping and allowing it on campus in light of recent studies on the side effects of the smoking alternative. 

In the US, 18 deaths and 1,080 injuries – a jump of 275 since last week – have now been positively linked to vaping, according to that country’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Vaping indoors is banned in Trinity, but it is currently still permitted outdoors, according to director of the TCD College Health Service Dr David McGrath. The institution has recently introduced a tobacco-free initiative on campus. 

“However, in light of the recent scientific studies on the side-effects of vaping, the Tobacco Free Trinity Committee will, as part of its ongoing remit, continue to assess the benefits of – and risks associated with – vaping,” said McGrath. 

In recent weeks, University of Limerick President Des Fitzgerald said a ban on vaping and smoking in any institution “in receipt of Exchequer funds” should be implemented. UL has had a ban on smoking and vaping on campus since 2018. 

This ban, he argued, should be brought into all education institutions. However, this ban already exists in some form on some university campuses.

Dublin City University (DCU) recently introduced smoke-free zones that include vaping on its three Northside campuses.  

“Right now, we’re in a six-week consultation phase to identify where exactly we’ll be erecting smoke/ vape shelters with cigarette bins on all our campuses,” a spokesperson for DCU said. 

Similarly, University College Dublin implemented a smoke-free campus policy between 2015 and 2017 that includes vaping and e-cigarettes.

Ireland’s newest university Technological University Dublin (TUD) has banned the use of vapes inside college buildings.

However, a spokesperson for the university said it is “not always possible” to strictly enforce the smoke-free campus policy in its Grangegorman campus as the grounds are open to the public. 

National University of Ireland, Galway has banned e-cigarettes and vapes in buildings, but a spokesperson for the university did not confirm whether this ban extends to their smoke-free zones on campus which were introduced in 2016. 

Maynooth University has a policy against vaping in university buildings and a smoke-free campus is set to be considered by a campus committee that recommends strategy and policy. 

A spokesperson for University College Cork has said there are no current plans to ban vaping on campus but the college “encourages a reduction in smoking on campus” by providing resources to anyone seeking to quit. 

Further bans

Fine Gael Senator and former Health Minister James Reilly called for Ireland to consider banning flavoured vapes to “prevent children and young people from taking up the habit” in a statement last week.  

Minister for Health Simon Harris has said he will bring legislation to Cabinet to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to people under 18 and also prevent under 18s from selling tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products.

Harris also hit out at Oireachtas members who have asked him to meet with vaping companies. 

“I’ll never meet them, I’ll never meet them, so people can stop asking me to meet them,” he said at the Oireachtas Health Committee earlier this week. 

A new study by the Mayo Clinic published this week found that the lungs of some patients with vape-related illnesses had been exposed to noxious fumes. 

Last month, US President Donald Trump announced that his administration will ban flavored e-cigarettes in the coming months. 

India and the US state of Massachusetts have already issued an outright ban on all e-cigarette products. 

- With reporting from © AFP 2019   

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    Mute Ailís McKernan
    Favourite Ailís McKernan
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    Mar 1st 2012, 12:08 PM

    a farce, thats all it is.

    62
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    Mute Keith Twamley
    Favourite Keith Twamley
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    Mar 1st 2012, 12:33 PM

    €19,100 a month, think Europe needs to tighten it’s own bloody belt.

    52
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    Mute jumpthecat
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    Mar 1st 2012, 12:40 PM

    He’s belt is tight enough by the look of him. Cardiff has the look of somebody after 10 pints after the All Ireland looking for a chipper.

    49
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    Mute Karl Doyle
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    Mar 1st 2012, 12:40 PM

    The UK pays them £50 million per day, they don’t need to tight.

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    Mute Aaron McKenna
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    Mar 1st 2012, 12:09 PM

    That’s our secret plan to write off the debt sorted.

    As the old joke goes, “Well, the strategy is… We’re hoping that the people who lent us the money will forget about it.”

    Seems more plausible with Kevin auditing the books.

    50
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    Mute Sean O'Keeffe
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    Mar 1st 2012, 1:48 PM

    @Aaron.
    I’ve grossly underestimated the genius of our political leaders. How long before Brussels is running like our DoF?
    If the Eurocrats uncover Kenny’s devious plan, he could always threaten them with more civil servants if he doesn’t get concessions!

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    Mute John Murphy
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    Mar 1st 2012, 12:36 PM

    My comments about this chap keep getting deleted so I’m trying a new tack.
    Best of Luck Kevin! We’ll all miss you.

    47
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    Mute Kevin Smyth
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    Mar 1st 2012, 1:35 PM

    Somehow I don’t believe you. But, since I don’t want my comment deleted either, I wish him all the best, He’s a virtuous, honest and devilishly handsome man. I have absolute trust in him. He’s GREAT!

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    Mute Eileen Gabbett
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    Mar 1st 2012, 8:36 PM

    I don’t believe you either John ….
    I hope he works out as well over there as he did here and that
    when he does, the same or similar , he will get his just desserts.
    Best of luck Kevin :)

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    Mute Peter Carroll
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    Mar 1st 2012, 12:04 PM

    Quick, count the stamps.

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    Mute Pat Mc Cormack
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    Mar 1st 2012, 12:51 PM

    He looks like Biffo after a few pints

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    Mute Billygoatmuff
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    Mar 1st 2012, 2:43 PM

    He’s more like Harney after a brief run.

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    Mute LoyalIrish Citizen
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    Mar 1st 2012, 12:52 PM

    I hope he does the same job for them as he did for us.

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    Mute Pat Mc Cormack
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    Mar 1st 2012, 12:47 PM

    This Guy is so Cool….
    I hope he has a Wonderful time in his new job,
    I really wish him all the very best x x x x

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    Mute Gerard Murphy
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    Mar 1st 2012, 1:58 PM

    Good luck Kev, hope the new job works out well, did you get the new (working) calculator I sent you?
    I know it’s a big sacrifice for you going ovef there, what with the poor pay and all that, we’re all rooting for you back home!

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    Mute Innishvilla
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    Mar 1st 2012, 2:53 PM

    Taking up the auditors post is OK. Just don’t let him open it or play with Money and stuff

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    Mute Glyn Carragher
    Favourite Glyn Carragher
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    Mar 1st 2012, 1:40 PM

    Nice Photo! But I cant make up my mind whether the slogan or the individual is the bigger joke

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    Mute hjGfIgAq
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    Mar 1st 2012, 1:38 PM

    Hey folks,
    Thanks for all the comments on this. I just wanted to note that the only comments that were deleted contained offensive language and were removed as per our comments policy.
    Susan

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    Mute John Murphy
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    Mar 1st 2012, 3:41 PM

    Aww Susan. Ya could let us off once in a while.

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    Mute Rommel Burke
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    Mar 1st 2012, 3:12 PM

    Bunch up on the sofa, Kevin coming!

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    Mute Patricia Gilheany
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    Mar 1st 2012, 4:48 PM

    Cardiff gone to pastures new and leaving one hell of a mess behind him. Just look at what Anglo got away with under his watch,—Maple 10, loan warehousing etc etc etc.

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    Mute Frank2521
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    Mar 1st 2012, 4:48 PM

    For years we sent the cretins to Europe just look at our history Frank Rossi, Pee Flynn, Charlie Mc Creevy, Lucy Cretin and to top it off Our very own Kevin Cardiff. We thought we were just getting them off our TV sets as we were sick of them – now they happen to hold important positions by default. We were caught out. Still we won’t have to see as much of them walking our streets. Lucy takes up the whole footpath in Sandymount.

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    Mute Getard Langslanger
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    Mar 1st 2012, 3:28 PM

    He’s the spit of Benny Hill and a comedy( of errors) genius to boot

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    Mute Shane Farrell
    Favourite Shane Farrell
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    Mar 1st 2012, 9:28 PM

    Lets just be glad he is gone!!!!

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