Read articles from North America

October 29, 2026 by regulatorwatch.com

Unclear federal regulations and conflicting state restrictions are creating significant challenges for US vaping businesses, affecting compliance, financial planning and long-term stability.

Rebecca Basinski, Mi-Pod’s Vice President of Finance and Accounting, shares how regulatory uncertainty has affected the company’s operations, including a crisis that nearly forced it into bankruptcy.

Her experience highlights the importance of transparent and consistent regulation that supports responsible businesses, protects adult consumers and maintains access to lower-risk alternatives for smokers.

October 28, 2026 by thr101.org

Arizona's adult smoking rate has fallen to a historic low of 7.7%, while vaping now exceeds smoking among adults for the first time. At the same time, youth vaping has declined substantially over the past decade, according to newly released survey data.

These trends suggest that declining youth nicotine use and greater adoption of smoke-free alternatives among adults can occur simultaneously, although they do not establish a causal relationship.

As Arizona considers further nicotine regulations, the findings highlight the importance of protecting young people while recognising the potential role of vaping in helping adults move away from combustible cigarettes.

October 27, 2026 by vietnam.vn

Scientific research on smoke-free nicotine products continues to advance, even in countries where these products face restrictions or outright bans.

Singapore, Thailand and Australia continue to examine consumer behaviour and regulatory outcomes, while research from Japan and the United States is contributing to a better understanding of toxicant exposure and potential health effects.

For Vietnam, these international experiences highlight the importance of ongoing scientific evaluation. Distinguishing between nicotine products, assessing relative risks and monitoring real-world outcomes can support more informed tobacco control policies without overlooking the uncertainties surrounding long-term health effects.

October 26, 2026 by thr101.org

Youth vaping in Hawaii declined by 66% between 2019 and 2025, while cigarette smoking among high school students reached its lowest recorded level. Meanwhile, more adults now report vaping than smoking, according to newly released survey data.

Despite these trends, Hawaii is introducing further restrictions on vaping products, including tighter authorisation requirements and limits on disposable devices.

The findings highlight the importance of balancing youth protection with adult access to lower-risk alternatives, particularly as policymakers consider the potential effects of additional restrictions on smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction.

October 26, 2026 by substack.com

Animal studies investigating children's exposure to residual vaping aerosol have come under scrutiny for using experimental conditions that may not reflect real-world exposure.

Researcher Roberto Sussman questions the relevance of mouse studies that expose animals to heavily contaminated materials, highlighting the lack of evidence for comparable exposure levels in everyday environments where children live.

The analysis reinforces the importance of realistic exposure assessment and scientifically valid comparisons between vaping and smoking. Reliable tobacco harm reduction research must distinguish laboratory findings from risks demonstrated under real-world conditions.

October 26, 2026 by springer.com

A new systematic review and meta-analysis published in Archives of Toxicology, covering 60 studies, found substantial reductions in exposure to harmful chemicals among smokers who switched completely to e-cigarettes.

Reductions ranged from approximately 61% to 92% across several biomarkers associated with tobacco smoke, while dual users experienced smaller and less consistent benefits.

Although lower toxicant exposure does not automatically establish long-term health outcomes, the findings strengthen the scientific evidence supporting complete switching as a tobacco harm reduction strategy.

October 23, 2026 by substack.com

Two recently published scientific papers have raised concerns about how nicotine dependence and smoking-related health risks are presented in medical research.

Cliff Douglas highlights a recurring problem: nicotine concentration is often treated as an indicator of harm, despite substantial differences in toxic exposure between cigarettes and smoke-free products.

The distinction is particularly important for smoking cessation, as effective nicotine delivery can help adults replace cigarettes without continued exposure to combustion. Greater scientific precision is essential to understanding relative risk and supporting evidence-based tobacco harm reduction.

October 22, 2026 by gfn.tv

Canada's pharmacy-only model for nicotine pouches has created an unusual regulatory imbalance. Since 2024, authorised pouches have been restricted to pharmacy sales, while unauthorised products remain widely available through online and retail channels.

At GFN 2026, pharmacist Todd Prochnau examined the practical consequences of this approach, including barriers to access, additional pressure on pharmacists and inconsistent risk communication.

The experience raises important questions about whether restricting regulated smoke-free alternatives supports smoking cessation or unintentionally strengthens the illicit market. Effective tobacco harm reduction requires both appropriate safeguards and realistic consumer access.

October 21, 2026 by protectingtaxpayers.org

Pennsylvania's new nicotine regulations under Act 57 could significantly restrict access to smoke-free alternatives, with only 159 products included on the state's approved list.

The Taxpayers Protection Alliance warns that these restrictions may limit consumer choice, affect small retailers and encourage illicit trade. With around 1.4 million adults smoking in Pennsylvania, the potential consequences for tobacco harm reduction deserve attention. Effective regulation should balance product safety and youth protection with access to lower-risk alternatives for adults seeking to quit smoking.

October 20, 2026 by tobaccoharmreduction.net

The persistent association between vaping and “popcorn lung” highlights how incomplete scientific communication can distort perceptions of health risks.

Although diacetyl, a flavouring chemical linked to occupational lung disease, was previously detected in some e-cigarettes, no confirmed cases of popcorn lung have been attributed to vaping. The chemical has also been prohibited in regulated e-liquids in the UK and EU for years.

Continued references to this risk without appropriate context may discourage smokers from switching to lower-risk alternatives. Accurate public health messaging must distinguish between potential hazards, actual exposure and established evidence.