People are lead to believe that electronic cigarettes do not contain tobacco and that they are safer than real cigarettes. Little do they know, electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigs, expose their inhalers to harmful and toxic gases that cause health problems and harm the lungs. In most cases the solvent in an e-cig is considered “food grading,” which means it should be safe enough to eat, but manufacturers are changing the configuration of the solvent so it contains both the flavoring and nicotine. As a person inhales, the flavored liquid flows through the e-cig and as it passes over hot coils the liquid changes into a gas. The more frequently an e-cig is used, the toxicity of the fumes increases. Nicotine is always added to the starting
Kim Krisberg is the author of Harmful Chemicals Found in E-cigarettes. She has been writing about public health for more than a decade and is a freelance public author that lives in Austin, Texas. The Nation’s Health is a online newspaper from the American Public Health Association. This online publication has the latest health news for healthcare professionals and has won countless awards for its publications. Krisberg’s article reveals that a flavoring chemical in electronic cigarettes has been linked to respiratory illnesses. Researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have tested 51 types of flavored e-cigarettes and the liquids and found chemicals like diacetyl, acetoin, and pentanedione inside. Diacetyl when inhaled is what causes people to get “popcorn lung.” The other chemicals have been linked to other serious health problems.
In addition to nicotine, e-cigarettes emit other potentially harmful constituents like carbonyls that result from thermal degradation of propylene glycol and glycerol; which are the most commonly used solvents in e-liquids [PMCID: PMC5226727]. Several studies reported that aerosols from these devices contain significant levels of carbonyls, including various aldehydes; such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein. [PMID: 23467656], [PMID: 24958024]. To this end, although earlier studies that used first generation e-cigarette devices did show that the levels of these constituents are much lower than those found in tobacco smoking, more recent studies in which newer generations
Electronic cigarettes, more commonly know as e-cigarettes have taken the 21st century by storm. They are handheld devices that have evolved dramatically since they were first introduced to the U.S. in 2006. They have a variety of models ranging from the traditional cigarettes, to different sizes, shapes, and features. The battery-powered device is not regulated by the FDA and does not use tobacco. Instead they deliver nicotine to the user through the conversion of various chemicals such as nicotine, propylene, glycol, glycerin, and flavoring chemicals in to vapor to be inhaled. The battery on the device heats up to produce the vapor that the user inhales.
The addiction to tobacco, nicotine, and smoking is something the humans have embraced and battled since the early 1800’s. With more and more people falling into the habit and becoming addicted, many detrimental health effects on the body caused people to question what was going on and what was causing these negative reactions in the body. Soon enough, the healthy and “cool” cigarettes that everyone was smoking became the face of lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, birth defects, and many other deadly bodily reactions. In the early 2000’s electronic cigarettes (ECs) were developed by a Chinese pharmacist that hoped to allow smokers to maintain their nicotine addiction, but limit or end the harmful and detrimental effects of tobacco on the body, due to his father’s death of tobacco-attributable lung cancer.1 A typical EC consists of a rechargeable lithium battery, a heating tool called an atomizer, which vaporizes a humectant (typically propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and/or polyethylene glycol 400). The humectant contains liquid nicotine. When the smoker inhales, the heating tool is activated by an airflow sensor, and the nicotine is vaporized.1 2
On the contrary to the general concept and motif behind the production of e-cigarettes, several studies have proven that these electronic devices that were created as an unassailable and riskless alternative to derail and overcome one’s cigarette addiction and dependency, happen to be equally as harmful and destructive as the nicotine infused drug. Maria Mironidou Tzouveleki, Evanthia Tzitzi, and Panagiotis Tzitzis stated “The vapour of e-cig contains toxic and dangerous substances as the smoke of conventional cigarette but in different quantities.” (Mironidou Tzouveleki, Tzitzi, 2015, p. 235.) Ever since e-cigarettes made their debut in the market back in 2003, researches had their doubts and implications about this particular substitutive
These cigarettes are battery-operated devices that combine nicotine and other chemicals into a vapor meant to be inhaled by those that are using it. The cartridges inside can curb the taste and smell of regular cigarettes by combining the nicotine and chemicals with flavoring to make them more appealing. However, the FDA is cautious about how the devices, and their safety, appear to the public eye. Although many market the device to be a healthier way to smoke, the products may contain ingredients that can are toxic. Advertisement of e-cigarettes towards the younger generation may lead kids to want to try other forms of tobacco which have been proven to lead to disease and death. E-cigarettes can also come in different flavors that may be appealing to a younger audience, such as strawberry, and chocolate. These devices can also give way to nicotine addiction. The biggest concern is the unknown. Typically, clinical studies were not submitted to the FDA showing the efficacy and safety of the devices. Without this information, the consumer does not know what dose of nicotine in combination with the types of concentration of chemicals they are inhaling or whether the device itself is safe to use. E-cigarettes also do not have any comparable health warnings to replacement products for nicotine or traditional cigarettes that are FDA- approved. Lab analysis obtained by the FDA compared cartridges from two brands of e-cigarettes and found known carcinogens and toxic chemicals that can be found in
Do you know a friend, or have a family member that uses an e-cigarette? The chances of a person has increased greatly. According to the American Lung Association,”both high school and middle school students e-cigarette usage has tripled in one year, increasing from 4.5% in 2013 to 13.4 % in 2014.” With the rising usage rates, e-cigs and their dangers associated with them are impacting more and more Americans everyday. While some people in America believe that electronic cigarettes are safe, Americans should be aware that electronic cigarettes have dangers, including addiction and harmful chemicals.
E-cigarettes appear as an innocent alternative to the real thing but the Food and Drug Administration issued an advisory identifying the “volatile” substances in the device and its emitted smoke may not be that harmless after all (“FDA: Second-Hand Smoke From E-Cigarettes May Be Harmful To Your Health”, 2013). Electronic cigarettes contain organic substances including propylene glycol, flavors, and nicotine which are emitted as a mist into the air in enclosed areas. FDA studies show that these microscopic liquid particles have the possibility of penetrating deep into our lungs. Also cited by the FDA in a German publication on electronic cigarettes shows
E-cigarettes have exploded onto the scene in the past three years. Whole stores dedicated to these devices have opened their doors to the public and business is thriving. E-cigarettes are battery-charged devices that have an atomizer, or heating element, in them to vaporize liquid nicotine. The user is able to inhale this vapor and get the nicotine without the other 4,000 chemicals present in tobacco cigarette smoke (Schroeder). Nicotine is a chemical that is produced by the tobacco plant. People have discovered that by smoking the leaves of a tobacco plant the nicotine in the leaves is delivered into the bloodstream. Nicotine by itself is not an awful drug as far as drugs go, although it is highly addictive, it is the tar in cigarettes that does so much damage. Tobacco use remains the number one preventable cause of death in the U.S. with 480,000 Americans dying prematurely from tobacco related disease. Kicking this habit remains difficult for most (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Mark Twain once wrote “It’s easy to quit smoking, I’ve done it hundreds of times.”
Electronic cigarettes have been around for about a decade. No one is sure of what havoc they can cause yet because of how new they are in existence. Throughout the past years more and more issues have been arising from this product that was originally assumed to be harmless. Now we are faced with the question are they really as safe as we thought or should increase investigation to see what they are really capable of. So far researchers have discovered many issues with the electronic cigarettes and every month more and more issues begin the surface the air. From explosion to toxic material. These issues will not only affect their
A political issues that seems to be rising is the continuous increase of tax on tobacco. This has been and even bigger issue in Chicago where a pack of cigarettes is nearly 10$. On larger scale for companies like Altria are effects by loss of business. People are looking for alternative sources to avoid these heave taxes. These large tobacco companies have been forced to innovate and enter the electronic cigarette market. Additionally people are starting to roll their own cigarettes. Instead increasing revenue through heavy taxes states are losing out.
Youth in Hawaii have been introduced to new technology involving electronic machines which contain nicotine using artificial liquids. The electronic cigarette has been a growing trend by creating lots of smoke by inhaling the burnt liquid. The target audience of adults who want to find an alternative use for smoking has been abused by teenagers across Hawaii. A poll relating to the use of electronic cigarettes said, 25 percent of high school students between 9th and 10th grade has used an electronic cigarette at least once. 18 percent of high schoolers use electronic cigarettes regularly. Teens who try vaping had used the trend as a gateway to cigarettes and other nicotine products in the future.
First she explains why it hasen't been proven that e-cigs can help you quit or they're not harmful.On the contrary theres data indi-
Even though, this was a short interview, but I learned that my respondent did not have many negative thoughts about e-cigarettes and it was seem more of a positive product to use. I also learned that friends are usually the ones who influences others to try new products and activities. Occasionally, it can be a positive or a negative influence. I was aware that my respondent might have not done research on the possible health risks and negative factors of e-cigarettes. Nonetheless, from my respondent’s answers, e-cigarettes do not cause any side effects or harm for a person who uses this product throughout the day or even years. Moreover, these products are convenient, does not require much work, and inexpensive.
People have been debating on if e-cigs should be regulated or not. Only 18 years old or older could by them if they were regulated but some people don’t want them to be regulated. They argue that it helps teens and adults quit smoking yet 16 million children can legally buy e-cigs. A toddler actually accidently drank liquid nicotine and died because it was poisonous and legal to the public. Not putting a regulation on e-cigs could lead to more young children being poisoned or they could even possibly die.