The E-cigarette Dilemma: Companies Providing Sensors to Monitor Usage

According to a September 9 report from the New York Post, the issue of students using e-cigarettes in New York City public schools has spiraled out of control, resulting in numerous private companies proposing the sale of sensors capable of detecting e-cigarettes and similar devices to the education department.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 14% of American high school students and 3% of middle school students used e-cigarettes in 2022. A study conducted by the CDC in 2021 found that 11% of high school students in New York City were using e-cigarette products at that time.

Although the Ministry of Education has not approved any contracts yet, it is believed that the agency is reviewing at least one product offered by a vendor.

These products rely on wireless services to detect the aerosols of e-cigarettes and promptly notify the relevant individuals.

Garrison Parthemore, co-founder of Pennsylvania supplier Triton Sensors, stated, "We have sent two devices to the New York City Department of Education for evaluation. They have been using these devices for several months now, and I believe they are considering which product to purchase."

He also added that some public schools have directly requested product information from Triton Company, which has already provided sensors to five other school districts in New York State.

Sotor Technologies, a company based in Ronkonkoma, New York, is providing its FlySense 286 sensor to six charter and private schools in New York City, as well as four school districts in New York state. The company is also making efforts to introduce its product into schools within New York City, referring to the e-cigarette issue within schools as a "disaster".