What do we know about electronic cigarettes?
E-cigarettes are known by many different names, and it is sometimes difficult for people to understand what is really known about these devices. Below are answers to some common questions people have about e-cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes are known by many different names, including e-cigs, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), alternative nicotine delivery systems (ANDS), e-hookahs, mods, pen-type electronic cigarettes, vaporizers, vaping devices, and tank systems.
Electronic cigarettes are available in many shapes and sizes. E-cigarettes may look like cigarettes, cigars, pipes, pens, and USB memory sticks, or may be available in other forms. These devices include a battery to power it, a heat source that heats a liquid to turn it into an aerosol of minute particles, a cartridge or reservoir that holds the liquid, and a nozzle or opening used to inhale the aerosol. E cigarettes do not contain tobacco, but many of them contain nicotine, which originates from tobacco. Because of this, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies them as “tobacco products.”
What is vaping or vaping?
The use of electronic cigarettes is often referred to as vaping (vaping, vaporizing, vaping) because many people believe that they produce a vapor that is then inhaled. But in truth, what e-cigarettes produce is an aerosol of tiny particles, which is different from what is meant by vapor.
How do electronic cigarettes work?
Electronic cigarettes heat a liquid (referred to as e-liquid or e-juice ), to turn it into an aerosol (referred to as “vapor”). E-cigarette users inhale this substance into their lungs.
Do electronic cigarettes contain nicotine?
The liquid in most e-cigarettes contains nicotine, the same addictive substance (drug) found in conventional cigarettes, cigars, hookahs, and other tobacco products. However, nicotine levels are not the same in all types of e-cigarettes, and sometimes product labels do not indicate the true nicotine content. There are some brands of e-cigarettes that claim to be free of nicotine, yet have been found to contain nicotine.
What is in the aerosol (“vapor”) of an electronic cigarette?
Although the term “vapor” may sound harmless, the aerosol that comes out of an e-cigarette is not water vapor and can be harmful. E-cigarette aerosol can contain nicotine and other addictive substances that can cause lung disease, heart disease, and cancer. As already mentioned, it is important to note that most e-cigarettes contain nicotine. There is evidence indicating that nicotine causes damage to the brain development of adolescents. If used during pregnancy, nicotine can also cause premature births and low birth weight babies.
In addition to nicotine, e-cigarettes and the “vapor” (aerosol) from e-cigarettes contain propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin. These are substances used to produce stage or theatrical fog, which have been found to increase lung and respiratory tract irritation after concentrated exposure. In addition, e-cigarettes and their vapor may contain the chemicals or substances listed below.
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): At certain levels, VOCs can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, and nausea, and can cause liver, kidney, and nervous system damage.
- Flavoring Chemicals: Some flavorings are more toxic than others. Studies have shown that some of the flavors contain different levels of a chemical called diacetyl that has been linked to a serious lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans.
- Formaldehyde: This is a cancer-causing substance that can form if the e-liquid overheats or doesn’t reach the heating element (known as a “dry puff”).
Currently, the FDA is not required to test all substances in e-cigarettes to determine that they are safe. Also, it’s hard to know exactly what chemicals are in an e-cigarette because most products don’t include all of the harmful or potentially harmful substances contained in them. Some products are also mislabeled. It is important to mention that the US CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has stated that e-cigarettes can sometimes be tampered with by humans and have the potential to become dangerous with illegal substances from unknown sources. For more information in this regard, refer to the statement that can be accessed on the CDC Press Room page.
What are the health effects of electronic cigarettes?
E-cigarettes are still relatively new, and more research is needed over a longer period of time to know what the long-term effects may be. The most important points to know are that the long-term health effects of using e-cigarettes are still unknown and that all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, can put people’s health at risk. people.
What is known about the use of e-cigarettes by young people?
As already mentioned, it is important to emphasize that most electronic cigarettes contain nicotine. There is evidence indicating that nicotine causes damage to the brain development of adolescents. Some studies have indicated that vaping among youth is strongly linked to the subsequent use of conventional cigarettes and other tobacco products. E-cigarette use may in part influence a child or adolescent to want to experiment with more harmful tobacco products. The FDA has the power to regulate all tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes. In addition, the FDA is evaluating various options to prevent youth access to e-cigarettes.
Does the use of electronic cigarettes cause cancer?
Scientists are still learning about how e-cigarettes affect health when used for a long time. It’s important to know that the aerosol (“vapor”) from e-cigarettes contains some cancer-causing chemicals, although in significantly lower amounts than in cigarette smoke.
Can e-cigarettes explode?
There have been reports of e-cigarettes exploding causing serious injury. Explosions are usually caused by faulty batteries or batteries not being handled as they should be. Visit the Food and Drug Administration website for helpful safety tips on avoiding an e-cigarette battery explosion.
Is secondhand e-cigarette aerosol exposure harmful?
Although e-cigarettes don’t emit smoke like tobacco cigarettes, they do expose people to aerosol emissions that may contain harmful substances. Scientists are still learning about the health effects of secondhand exposure to e-cigarette vapor. Regulations that ban smoking in schools, businesses, healthcare institutions, and other organizations should also include e-cigarettes. This will help non-users avoid exposure to potentially harmful e-cigarette aerosol.
Can e-cigarettes help people quit smoking?
E-cigarettes are not currently approved by the FDA to aid smoking cessation. This is because there is still not enough research or evidence in this regard. On the other hand, there is a large body of compelling evidence indicating that the use of FDA-approved anti-smoking medications can be effective in helping people to quit smoking, especially when accompanied by counseling and emotional support.
Some people who smoke have chosen to try e-cigarettes as a method of kicking the habit of conventional cigarettes. Quitting smoking clearly has health benefits that are well documented. But smokers who switch to e-cigarettes are still incurring serious health risks. It is important to stop using tobacco in any form, including e-cigarettes, as soon as possible to both reduce health risks and avoid nicotine addiction. People who have completely switched from conventional cigarettes to e-cigarettes should avoid smoking conventional cigarettes again, as failure to do so could expose them to devastating health effects.
Some people who smoke choose to use conventional cigarettes and e-cigarettes at the same time on an ongoing basis, whether they are looking to quit or not. This is known as “dual use.” The dual use of electronic cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes can cause considerable harm because smoking any number of regular cigarettes is very harmful. People should not use both types of cigarettes at the same time and are strongly urged to stop using tobacco products completely.
