
Before we get into the debate about whether electronic cigarettes are harmful to your health or not, let’s establish some ground rules:
What is an electronic cigarette, and how does it work?
It is also known as an electronic cigarette or e-cigarette, and it is a battery-powered device that simulates the experience of smoking an ordinary cigarette, although it is alleged to pose fewer health risks because it contains only nicotine vapours and not the tar or hundreds of other harmful substances found in a traditional cigarette. To be clear, having less risk does not imply that you are risk free, as we shall explain.
This is a cigarette
The electronic cigarettes have risen in popularity in recent years, especially among the younger generation and smokers who choose a less dangerous method to get their nicotine fix than smoking traditional cigarettes. Even in Brazil, where the sale of e-cigarettes is forbidden, the product has piqued the public’s interest and drawn a large number of followers, who acquire the gadget over the Internet, as seen in the graph below.
What Substances Are Found in the Smoke from Electronic Cigarettes?
Electronic cigarettes, as opposed to traditional cigarettes, which burn tobacco to produce smoke, evaporate a liquid, which is referred to as e-liquid, e-juice, or e-juice concentrate. This e-liquid is sold separately in little bottles (referred to as refills), and there are now more than 7000 flavour varieties available on the market.
While many people assume that electronic cigarettes emit water vapour, the reality is that they produce aerosols that include dangerous chemicals and ultra-fine particles that are breathed into the lungs.
The majority of the liquids are available for purchase is made up of nicotine (although there are also nicotine-free e-liquids available), propylene glycol (glycerol), and flavorings. The presence of a broad range of additional chemicals, such as cadmium, lead, nickel, chromium, nitrosamines, and phenolic compounds, has previously been established, some of which have carcinogenic potential, as we shall see lower down the page when we address the adverse consequences of e-cigarettes.
The nicotine concentration claimed by manufacturers, according to research, is not always trustworthy, and is often larger than the amount listed on the labels. There are also e-liquids on the market that claim to be nicotine-free, but when tested, they were found to have nicotine in their formulation.
We believe that using e-cigarettes is less damaging to health than smoking traditional cigarettes, but we do not know how safe they are for both active and passive smokers.
The electronic cigarette keeps the user’s exposure to nicotine constant, typically at levels that are comparable to those of a traditional cigarette. Nicotine is a very addictive chemical, yet it does not seem to enhance the risk of cardiovascular disease or cancer when used over a lengthy period of time.
Although the long-term effects of exposure to e-liquid vapour are yet unclear, preliminary research suggests that it may cause alterations in respiratory function. These modifications, on the other hand, seem to be less severe than those generated by regular smokes.
Conclusion
The use of certain THC-derived compounds in e-cigarettes has been linked to severe acute lung problems, according to preliminary findings. Make no attempt to endanger your life by using dangerous chemicals. Don’t be fooled into thinking that electronic cigarettes are less harmful to your health than traditional cigarettes. Both substances are addictive and should be avoided at all costs.