Someone recently shared with me that "vaping" helped him quit smoking after enabling the habit for over 20 years. It occurred to me, trading one habit for another, what is the impact of e-cigarettes?
An electronic cigarette, otherwise known as an e-cig, personal vaporizer (VP), or an electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS), is essentially a battery powered device that vaporizes a liquid solution called an e-liquid.
E-liquids usually contain a mixture of propylene glycol, glycerin, nicotine and/or flavorings. It's the assumption because "vaping" does not burn tobacco, that it should be safer than conventional cigarette smoking. However, e-liquids decompose into known carcinogens such as formaldehyde and acetone, when aerosolized. Additionally, both conventional cigarettes and e-cigarettes deliver nicotine.
One component of the marketing efforts promote e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation product. However, a recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association states that "data supporting the effectiveness of e-cigarettes at helping smokers quit are lacking."
An electronic cigarette, otherwise known as an e-cig, personal vaporizer (VP), or an electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS), is essentially a battery powered device that vaporizes a liquid solution called an e-liquid.
E-liquids usually contain a mixture of propylene glycol, glycerin, nicotine and/or flavorings. It's the assumption because "vaping" does not burn tobacco, that it should be safer than conventional cigarette smoking. However, e-liquids decompose into known carcinogens such as formaldehyde and acetone, when aerosolized. Additionally, both conventional cigarettes and e-cigarettes deliver nicotine.
One component of the marketing efforts promote e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation product. However, a recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association states that "data supporting the effectiveness of e-cigarettes at helping smokers quit are lacking."
Data shows that manufacturers are also marketing these products toward minors and individuals who have never smoked. Nicotine cartridges can be found in different appealing flavors such as fruit, candy and cola. The device itself can resemble a decorated accessary or even a cartoon character. Some of these products also have refillable cartridges to allow e-liquids to be changed or mixed, which has resulted in an increase in unintentional overdoses.
The simple truth is that e-cigarettes have not been fully studied. We don't fully understand the potential risks of e-cigarettes when used as intended. We don't know how much nicotine or other potentially harmful chemicals are being inhaled during use. This includes secondhand vapors that can be inhaled by bystanders. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that e-cigarettes should be banned indoors, because they emit chemicals potentially as dangerous as cigarettes and have a potential passive smoking risk.
We also don't know whether there are any benefits associated with using these products. The California Department of Public Health has issued a health advisory warning related to the toxicity of e-cigarettes, stating the nicotine in them is as addictive as the nicotine in conventional cigarettes. There is also concern that e-cigarettes can increase nicotine addiction among young people and lead kids to try other tobacco products, including conventional cigarettes, which are proven to cause disease and lead to premature death.
Currently, the FDA only regulates cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco, and smokeless tobacco. However, efforts have been made by the FDA to extend its tobacco authority to additional tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
Contact Aguirre Legal Nurse Consulting to keep you up to date on the latest medical trends, practices and techniques. Call (443) 598-2562 or email us at AguirreLegalNurseConsulting@gmail.com
The simple truth is that e-cigarettes have not been fully studied. We don't fully understand the potential risks of e-cigarettes when used as intended. We don't know how much nicotine or other potentially harmful chemicals are being inhaled during use. This includes secondhand vapors that can be inhaled by bystanders. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that e-cigarettes should be banned indoors, because they emit chemicals potentially as dangerous as cigarettes and have a potential passive smoking risk.
We also don't know whether there are any benefits associated with using these products. The California Department of Public Health has issued a health advisory warning related to the toxicity of e-cigarettes, stating the nicotine in them is as addictive as the nicotine in conventional cigarettes. There is also concern that e-cigarettes can increase nicotine addiction among young people and lead kids to try other tobacco products, including conventional cigarettes, which are proven to cause disease and lead to premature death.
Currently, the FDA only regulates cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco, and smokeless tobacco. However, efforts have been made by the FDA to extend its tobacco authority to additional tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
Contact Aguirre Legal Nurse Consulting to keep you up to date on the latest medical trends, practices and techniques. Call (443) 598-2562 or email us at AguirreLegalNurseConsulting@gmail.com
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