“A proliferation of e-cigarette flavors and forms, coupled with marketing efforts from manufacturers and parental enabling — and even encouragement — has led to a surge of vaping among younger and younger kids,” a recent article in the Altoona Mirror said.

A related quote from the article said “kids are obtaining e-cigarettes not only from their parents, but from uncles, aunts and older siblings who vape, along with stores where enforcement of the prohibition against sales to minors is lax.”

The final chapter of the saga dealing with e-cigarettes has yet to be written — and is not likely to be written for some time. Ascertaining whether fears and cautious expressions about e-cigarette use are justified, as many people believe, or are the proverbial false alarm, as many others believe, will require the efforts and serious investigation and research of scientists and medical experts.

However, one investigatory point seems clear. That is a thorough probe will need to look at vaping from two different vantage points, from the standpoint of adults and the standpoint of young people, including children as young as third- and fourth-graders.

Even so early in the public focus on both the good and bad of the vaping craze, it needs to be emphasized that there cannot be too much concern over what is happening now and what might occur in the future if and/or when health impacts of the questionable, controversial practice begin to settle in and possibly multiply.

Here is some of the information Dr. George Zlupko, founder of Altoona Lung Specialists, presented beyond pointing out that vaping’s long-term effects include mood disorders, possible cancers, “popcorn” lungs and other forms of lung damage.

He pointed out that, in e-cigarettes, aerosols produced by the heating of the liquids and inhaled by users include volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde and acrolein, both of which are toxic. He referred to ultrafine particles, cancer-causing chemicals and the heavy metals nickel, tin and lead.

And, among other components of the e-cigarettes is nicotine concentrate, he noted, reminding the public that nicotine addiction is hard to overcome.

Regarding the coalition’s concerns regarding youth vaping, he pointed out that nicotine is harmful for brain development, altering structures that affect attention, learning, mood and impulse control.

With those facts in mind, he said, education of both students and parents is critical.

While there is no clear evidence yet that vaping has reached the health-nightmare stage here in Pennsylvania, what if large-scale, serious, so-far-undetected health damage already has been done.

Can our state ever be truly ready for such a prospect?