You can no longer use an e-cigarette on a flight to or from America, the US government has ruled.
The ban applies to commercial aeroplanes, including all domestic and foreign carriers with flights scheduled to and from the US.
The US Department of Transportation ruled that
Medical devices such as nebulisers are exempt. It isn’t clear whether vaporisers are included in the ban.
“This final rule is important because it protects airline passengers from unwanted exposure to aerosol fumes that occur when electronic cigarettes are used onboard aeroplanes,” said the Department of Transportation’s Anthony Foxx.
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The current regulations banned smoking but didn’t explicitly define it. This ban clears up any confusion as to whether or not that includes e-cigarettes.
Studies have shown that e-cigarette aerosols can contain harmful chemicals. While scientific opinion is divided over whether or not they are actually dangerous, this ruling will act as a precautionary measure until further research has been done.
A couple of years ago, airlines allowed electronic gadgets to be used during take-off and landing, as well as during flight, as was previously allowed.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.