On Monday, the National Park Service announced that the use of electronic cigarettes is now banned in any national park where conventional smoking is not allowed. As per a National Park Service internal memo, initially, Existing National Park Service policies in relation to tobacco smoking were issued in 2003.

According to the memo, the new policy was issued in order to "protect employees and park visitors from the health hazards and annoyances associated with exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, commonly known as secondhand smoke, which is a known human carcinogen".

Using e-cigarettes will be banned in any government owned or leased vehicle together with heavy equipment, aircraft or watercraft in the park. As per experts, vaping will also be banned in national park concession facilities in addition to other buildings.

The memo refers to a number of studies, which say that vapor breathed out from electronic cigarettes consists of nicotine at a level approximately one-tenth of that is there in secondhand smoke.

A number of other government agencies have also restricted the use of e-cigarettes and the latest decision by the National Park Service puts the agency in list of such organizations. The US Fish and Wildlife Service set up a policy that bans vaping in interior spaces of Fish and Wildlife vehicles and facilities.

The US Geological Survey prohibited the use of e-cigarettes in all its "interior space, courtyards, atriums, balconies and bus stops" in August 2014. As per American Vaping Association Trade Group President Gregory Conley, the new restrictions are not a good idea and should not be put into effect.