If you’re in a “no-smoking area” where some people nonchalantly puffs away on their cigarettes, mustn’t you be a bit angry at the obvious violation of the rule and be worried about your health? As you try to look for the usual effects of smoking in the environment, – watery eyes and nasty smell – you’re a bit surprised that none of them chokes you at all. That’s because technically speaking, these people are not smoking; they are “vaping” or using e-cigarettes. These are said to contain less pollutants and the smoker gets far less chemicals than regular cigarettes.
Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigs, are battery-operated devices that vaporize a liquid solution to produce smoke-like aerosol. Unlike traditional cigarettes, E-cigs simulate tobacco smoking without burning tobacco. When the e-liquid heats up, smokers inhale nicotine through vapor then emit as non-toxic smoke. While switching to e-cigs may give smokers and second-hand smokers some level of confidence in terms of health and safety, it is important to know what you must be concerned about e-cigs.
A. Toxic Metals from E-Cigarette Devices.
In August 2014, results of a scientific study, which aimed to identify the particles generated by e-cigarettes, were published in the Journal of Environmental Science, Processes and Impacts. Dr. Constantinos Sioutas of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, a co-author of the report states that the study was meant to quantify the levels of exposure to different organic compounds and toxic materials found in second-hand e-cigarette vapor.
A series of air samples were gathered from offices and rooms where people smoke using e-cigarettes. These environments were chosen to better simulate real-life exposure to second-hand smoke and vapour. The team found out that there is a 10-fold decrease in exposure to carcinogenic particulate matter in second hand e-cig vapor compared to cigarette smoke. The study further discovers that the level of cancer-causing compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is reduced to almost zero.
However, the international team uncovered some alarming findings. While lead and zinc are lower in tobacco cigarettes, it was found out that e-cigarettes contain high levels of chromium, zinc, and nickel at four times higher. The metal particles are believed to be coming from the metal cartridges of e-cigs, and not from the e-liquid. This welcomes recommendations on improving manufacturing standards for the devices to reduce the presence of harmful metals in the vapor.
B. Second Hand Exposure to Nicotine
In 2013, the Society for the Research of Nicotine and Tobacco reports that traces of nicotine are found in second hand vapors. Nicotine is known to cause several health problems, including faster heart rate, elevated blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes, insulin resistance and gastrointestinal problems. It may also trigger hypothyroidism, abnormal sleep pattern, depression, headaches, decreased sex drive, mood swings, and vision impairment.
E-cigarettes indoors do not expose non-smokers to toxic tobacco-specific combustion products, but the nicotine in it may still have unhealthy effects on humans. Thus, there is a need for more research to determine the effects of second hand nicotine and to gauge its severity on secondary smokers.
C. Importance of the Studies
E-cigarettes have been sold in the US since 2007 and are considerably new that not so many clinical trials or researches on them are available yet. Nevertheless, the recent studies are helpful in confirming the overall safety of e-cigarettes versus the traditional ones. The concerns raised by different groups of researches are useful as these continue to shape guidelines and to institute more effective manufacturing and marketing regulations.
Both smokers and non-smokers benefit from the best features of e-cigs: absence of ammonia, bleach, fiberglass, formaldehyde, plastic, and pesticide, which are all present in commercial cigarettes. More importantly, many people who switch from smoking regular cigarettes to vaping e-cigs eventually quit smoking altogether.
So instead of focusing efforts on the total ban of e-cigarettes, regulatory authorities should perhaps direct their attention to improving manufacturing standards of these electronic vaporisers. Implementing better quality control can improve the safety features of e-cigs. On the other hand, e-cigarette users need to practice proper etiquette in deference to non-smokers pending the results of more thorough studies. Where safety is concerned, it’s always a win-win situation for all parties involved.