Colorado Revised Statutes Title 25. Health § 25-14-202. Legislative declaration

(a) It is in the best interest of the people of this state to protect the public from involuntary exposure to emissions from secondhand smoke and electronic smoking devices (ESD) in most indoor areas open to the public, in public meetings, in food service establishments, and in places of employment; and

(b) ESD emissions consist of ultrafine particles that are significantly more highly concentrated than particles within conventional tobacco smoke. There is conclusive evidence that most ESDs contain and emit not only nicotine but also many other potentially toxic substances and that ESDs increase airborne concentrations of particulate matter and nicotine in indoor environments. In addition, studies show that people exposed to ESD emissions absorb nicotine at levels comparable to the levels experienced by passive smokers. Many of the elements identified in ESD emissions are known to cause respiratory distress and disease, and ESD exposure damages lung tissues. For example, human lung cells that are exposed to ESD aerosol and flavorings show increased oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.