E-cigarettes are not without Health Risks
In the past decade e-cigarettes industry has been growing quite rapidly. E-cigarettes were first created as a better alternative to the conventional tobacco cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. However, in todays society they have become a very popular commodity. Likewise, they are mostly used for mere pleasure and not what its original purpose was. Originally the sole purpose of e-cigarettes was to help wean their users off of the unhealthy drugs we all know as the conventional tobacco cigarettes (Dockrell, 1). But are they really the healthier alternative? Absolutely not. E-cigarettes are extremely unhealthy, used as a gate-way substitute, and also affect others who aren’t even directly using it!
E-cigarettes are short for electronic cigarettes. They are used to deliver chemicals that contain flavor and other harmful substances such as nicotine and various chemicals. The means of delivery to the user is through a vapor. The vapor is created by and internal heat heat source. After the liquid has been vaporized it is inhaled by the user. This hot liquid alone can pose serious external damage to your skin. It has been reported that some e-cigarettes have malfunctioned and exploded in the users face, causing severe burns up to second degree (Chen, 1).
Due to the only recent popularity of e-cigarettes, most of the long term affects have not yet been discovered. However, there is a large diversity of short term affects. Farsalinos stated
The e-cigarette format, however, does not eliminate concerns regarding public and individual health risks. The World Health Organization has called for e-cigarette usage to be monitored in the same way as more conventional tobacco products,(23) the US FDA is advocating for more research,(24) and there has been a dramatic increase in analyses of the chemical, physiological, psychological and socio-cultural aspects of e-cigarettes.(2-7,9-12,14-21,24-52)
The profitable business of electronic cigarettes has raised over $3 Billion dollars annually, vastly spread across over 466 brands which have joined the ordeal. Above all, known as a “gateway drug”, electronic cigarettes have claimed the once-ordinary lives of people, specifically to those who have turned from tobacco cigarettes. What is more, scientists have determined that not enough research has been executed to automatically assume the healthiness of e-cigarettes. Despite this, many have claimed that e-cigarettes, are, and will be the new “healthy” drug, so to speak. Provided that e-cigarettes do not release harmful smoke, they are still not safe for one’s health given that not enough research has been performed on them.
An increasing number of physicians and scientists agree that e-cigarettes are a healthier alternative, and they say these products could end a major health problem. The Royal College of Physicians say, "Electronic cigarettes and other nicotine-containing devices offer massive potential to improve public health, by providing smokers with a much safer alternative to tobacco" (Jen Christensen, sec. 4).
“ The true face of smoking is disease, death and horror – not the glamour and sophistication the pushers in the tobacco industry try to portray ”. – David Byrne. Smoking has been an habit in teenagers and adults for a very long time and it is well known that it is harmful for them as well for the environment. Technology has advanced, and now there are electronic cigarettes, called E-cigarette, which are devices with battery that carry nicotine heated aersosol in a fashion that imitates common cigarettes, while carrying lower levels of toxins than a conventional lit cigarette. They can be used indoors, which allows smokers to get their fix wherever and whenever they want. A study from NBC News (Leshae) shows that electronic cigarettes are a technique for smokers to try quitting their addictions. Manufacturers consider that e-cigarattes are healthier than normal tobacco cigarattes, since smokers are inhaling vaporized nicotine rather of carcinogen-filled smoke. However, according to a Thomas Jefferson University Alumni article, some reseachers have found harmful ingredients in certain e-cigarettes, such as ethylene glycol poisoning, a primary ingredient in brake fluid and antifreeze. E-cigarettes mey seem like a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes, nevertheless there is some research that proves the contrary and we still don’t know its long term effect.
E-cigarettes may be less harmful than cigarettes, but still don’t know enough about their long-term risks or the effect of secondhand exposure. E-cigarettes have triggered a fierce debate among health experts who share the same goal, reducing the disease and death caused by tobacco. But they disagree about whether e-cigarettes make the problem better or worse. “Some affect brain development in children and teens,” Drummond says. Some e-cigarettes have candy flavoring, which could make them appealing to
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.
Today the biggest question is, “Are they harmful?” Electronic Cigarettes are being tested and thoroughly examined to identify the helpful and hazardous effects they may have. Most importantly, they are being compared to traditional cigarettes to determine whether or not they are a safe alternative for smokers. According to the Food and Drug Administration, there are trace amounts of toxic and carcinogenic ingredients found in several cartridge samples of e-cigarettes. The FDA tried to regulate them as drug delivery devices; however, a federal judge ruled in 2010 that it lacked such authority, so the FDA is currently moving to regulate them as tobacco products (Feldman, 2014).
The electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette, is growing in popularity in the United States among people who are trying to quit smoking. The e-cigarette gives the nicotine and physical sensations that the brain craves, while supposedly reducing the amount of harmful substances and smoke found in true cigarettes. However, e-cigarettes remain unregulated and are purely experimental in many ways. The side effects of e-cigarettes are allegedly less extreme and are not as slow as other nicotine replacements. The fast acting nicotine replacement gives attempting quitters an alternative option to smoking regular cigarettes, with fast crave quenching ability.
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
Electronic cigarettes (also called e-cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery systems) are battery-operated devices designed to deliver nicotine with flavorings and other chemicals to users in vapor instead of smoke. There are three main categories of e-cigarettes: cigalikes, looking like cigarettes, either disposable or with rechargeable batteries and replaceable nicotine cartridges; tank systems, bigger than cigalikes with refillable liquid tanks; and mods, assembled from basic parts or by altering existing products.[11] A cigalike e-cigarette contains a atomizer, which is connected to a battery. E-cigarettes are generally cylindrical, with many variations.[9]
E-Cigarettes have become the latest talk in replacing traditional cigarette smoking, especially internationally. Doctors and individuals now are being persuaded into thinking e-cigarettes are a better substitute for smoking, and some doctors are even suggesting e- cigarettes to their patients. Yet, a growing amount of research is suggesting that e-cigarettes have not been proven to be safe, and have been
Electronic cigarettes have became extremely popular almost overnight it seems. These devices have worked their way into people’s everyday lives and are continuing to get even more popular. E-cigs are so popular because they do not have near as many chemicals as cigarettes, one can pick the flavor of their liking, and the smoke does not stink as traditional tobacco cigarette smoke does. In most places e-cigarette shops have been opened and are now selling regulated devices. In a battle between cigarettes and e-cigs, e-cigs are winning in sales and in popularity. Smoking is a dangerous habit causing countless problems in society; however, to curb this trend, smokers may resort to electronic cigarettes, as they help people stop smoking tobacco, promote better health, and satisfy their nicotine addictions.
According to FDA, conclusive tests carried out on samples from two popular brands revealed that there were significant amounts of nicotine and toxic chemicals that might pose a threat to the health of passionate consumers. In fact one of the substances discovered in the test was a carcinogen (cancer causing agent). Following these epic revelations, the FDA issued a statement warning consumers about the likelihood of experiencing health risks after using the product. Therefore in light of this, many pundits in the health fraternity have raised the red flag on the use of e-cigarettes to counter smoking. Here, it is important to note that FDA only regulates e-cigarettes that are sold for therapeutic purposes
It should be noted that there are seven FDA-approved quit aids that are proven safe and can be effective when used as directed.E-cigarettes haven't been thoroughly evaluated in scientific studies. For now, not enough data exist on the safety of e-cigarettes, how the health effects compared to traditional cigarettes, and if they are helpful for people trying to quit smoking.” (“Electronic Cigarettes”). People think that electronic cigarettes would help them to quit smoking, because there is no tobacco on them. There still some researchers prove
E-cigarette is believed to greatly reduce on the health effects associated with tobacco smoking. However, e-cigarette has been criticized as a leading cause of smoking among the youth due to its flavor as well as its novel appearance and campaigns. It is also believed to pose some health risks. Despite such drawbacks, e-cigarette has recently gained a lot of popularity and subsequent growth.