Being promoted as the “safer” alternative to conventional cigarettes, Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes’ consumption is rising.
Electronic nicotine delivery systems are more in use among young people and first-time users (as per trends, introduction to vaporizers is more common for first-time smokers because of the flavors), and that is a public health threat.
The battery-operated e-cigarettes come in many styles like vape mods, vape pens, and Juuls, and bear an uncanny resemblance with conventional cigarettes, and daily stationaries like pens and sleek tech gadgets. Users breathe a vapor-like aerosol (hence, vaping); aerosol does not contain all the harmful contaminants which are present in tobacco smoke, but it has different toxins.
Though they have been promoted as safer alternatives and a way to quit smoking, by October 2019, around 18 people died because of e-cigarettes, and over 1000 vaping-related lung illnesses have been reported.
Like conventional cigarettes, e-cigarette also delivers nicotine, the major addictive that is a major concern throughout the world.
Apart from nicotine, it releases potentially harmful flavoring chemicals such as diacetyl (a chemical linked to potentially lethal lung disease), volatile organic compounds (VOCs)cancer-causing chemicals, and heavy metals like lead, nickel, and tin.
All the products released by e-cigarettes are toxic for users and non-users (secondhand smokers) alike.
An e-cigarette works by heating a liquid into an aerosol that is intaken as vapor. The liquid is dangerous if it is accidentally swallowed or is absorbed through the skin or eyes.
Aside from all of these, one of the biggest flaws of e-cigs is that- it’s increasing may “re-normalize” smoking (smoking has always been harmful and always will be with the currently available products).
The long-term consequences of e-cigarettes on health are not that clear yet, but all the currently available data indicates that Electronic nicotine delivery systems are no way safer than their primitive counterparts, and at times, are even dangerous than their predecessors.