London, Aug 27 : The World Health Organization has said that use of e-cigarettes should be banned indoors, while sale of the device to children should stop as well.

The international agency said that there must be no more claims that the devices can help smokers quit, until there is firm evidence to support this and even warned about the potential threat to adolescents and the foetuses of pregnant women that the device poses, the BBC reported.

According to the WHO, legal steps need to be taken to end the use of e-cigarettes indoors - both in public spaces and in work places and there should also be a ban on advertisements that could encourage children and non-smokers to use the devices, while fruit, candy or alcoholic-drink style flavours should be prohibited too.

The public health agency also warned about the exhaled e-cigarette vapour, which they say could increase the background air levels of some toxicants and nicotine. (ANI)