There’s been a notable increase in vehicles with air quality detection sensors, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. But drivers should take readings with a “grain of salt” — especially when it comes to issues like vaping in cars, a leading Aussie GP has warned.
The plea comes after the driver of an electric Mercedes in the US shared his shock earlier this week when realising the air quality inside his vehicle drastically decreased when his friend exhaled after puffing on a vape. Astonished, the man took to social media, showing a view of his control panel which revealed the quality rating went from “good” to “very unhealthy” almost instantly after exhaling.
“Oh my God,” the man says in the video. “And people drive around with their kids in the car? That was insane. I am so thankful that my car has that feature, because it has just opened my eyes”.
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Deputy Chair with the Royal Australian College of Practitioners (RACGP) Victoria, Dr Aadhil Aziz, said this technology increased in prevalence after the pandemic, and while generally helpful, readings shouldn’t be taken on face value.
He questioned the accuracy of sensors in vehicles altogether, particularly as some don’t even specify proper measuring units.
Aussie GP weighs in on viral vaping video
“They’ve always had filters, but filtration systems became much more advertised in a post-Covid world. I think Tesla calls it biohazard detection or something like that, so they’re very much around,” Aziz told Yahoo.
He said in the instance of the Mercedes driver, the sensor may be perceived a good thing because it essentially warned the man that “vaping is bad”. But he more generally warned Australians against relying on this kind of technology when it comes to genuine air quality measurements.
Aziz said it’s unfortunate it took a car sensor to expose the harm that vapes can do, explaining that each device is filled with a whole host of dangerous chemicals, including but not limited to propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine or glycerol.
“But the exact name of the chemical is not what’s really important,” he said, adding the “bigger issue” is the “lack of science and evidence-based research” among those who take up vaping. “We’ve known for a very long time that electronic cigarettes and vapes are extremely bad for us,” he said.
Why is vaping unhealthy?
“And if you follow the money, you figure out who owns the vapes. And it’s basically cigarette companies now understanding that the younger generation saw their dads or their grandparents smoke, and saw that as really unhealthy but also uncool.
“This is just a branding of that, only just with slightly less nicotine. I would argue that they’re not significantly less dangerous than cigarettes. And I think the recent evidence is pointing to that.”
When discussing vapes as a pathway to quitting smoking altogether, Aziz said they do have merit, though there are a “million other ways” a person can quit without nicotine consumption, and Australians should consult their GPs if they’re thinking of quitting.
He said that people’s needs and lifestyles can be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
“The message that I would like passed on is just basically to go find your GP, find any GP, build that relationship and ask these questions, because that’s when you’ll get individualised answers to yourself,” he said. “Which will really carry more weight than somebody just giving broad strokes advice about not to vape.”
Do you have a story tip? Email: [email protected].
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.