Apple is removing all 181 e-cigarette or vaping-related apps from the App Store as concerns regarding e-cigarette on public health are growing, as first reported by Axios.
At least 42 people in the US have died of acute lung injury associated with aerosolized e-cigarettes, the youngest being only 17 years of age, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Officials believed that Vitamin E acetate is what causing the vaping disease, as the compound was detected in all 29 lung tissue samples tested, with CDC saying it's a “potential toxin of concern.”
In fact, Apple has never permitted merchants to sell e-cigarettes directly through apps, but there are apps that allow users to control e-cigarette temperature, and some offers news, social networks, and games related to e-cigarettes. Since June this year, the company has been working in this route. they announced at the time that it would stop accepting new apps promoting vaping products..
In this regard, Apple said in a statement:
We take great care to curate the App Store as a trusted place for customers, particularly youth, to download apps. We're constantly evaluating apps, and consulting the latest evidence, to determine risks to users' health and well-being.However, all vaping-related apps will continue to function as normal if an users has already downloaded it.
Recently, experts ranging from the CDC to the American Heart Association have attributed a variety of lung injuries and fatalities to e-cigarette and vaping products, going so far as to call the spread of these devices a public health crisis and a youth epidemic
We agree, and we've updated our App Store Review Guidelines to reflect that apps encouraging or facilitating the use of these products are not permitted. As of today, these apps are no longer available to download.
Image Via TheGadegtFlow
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