By: Anabela Cotovio
Electronic cigarettes (ECIGS) are smoking devices that contains a heating element which produces aerosol for inhalation (Rehan, 2018). Within an ECIG is e-juice, usually made up of nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerine, and other flavours (Toussaint, 2014). ECIGS are known to be a better alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes because e-juice is a replacement for tobacco (which is a carcinogen). Due to the sudden appeal for youth vaping, a lot of research has gone into studying the risks associated with smoking ECIGS (Health Canada, 2018). Like cigarettes, ECIGS contains nicotine (sometimes even more than cigarettes), making them very addicting. However, majority of the health associated risks lies in the chemicals contained in the different flavoured e-juices.
From bubble gum, to chocolate banana, e-juice flavours have to be regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The American Lung and Heart Associations revealed that although it may be passed by the FDA, consuming substances will have different effects than smoking it (Mammoser, 2018). A study conducted at George Washington University revealed that the odds of having a heart attack increased by 42% among people who used e-cigarettes (Glantz, 2017). Toxicologists recently found that ECIGS are capable of altering the activity of genes, increasing one’s risk for cancer (Raloff, 2016). They also presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for their experiment that revealed that ECIGS have the potential to reduce the immune cells ability to fight bacteria and infections, especially those which attack the lungs (Raloff, 2016). Above all, schools and parents are most concerned with the fact that ECIGS are capable at stalling the development of the brain and impacting daily behaviours (Health Canada, 2018). This topic raises a lot of debate and as epidemiologists, it is important to educate others on the lasting impacts that Vaping can inflict on our younger generations.
References
Canada, Health. “About Vaping.” Canada.ca, 21 Dec. 2018, www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/smoking-tobacco/vaping.html.
Glantz. “First Evidence That e-Cig Use Increases Heart Attacks, Independent of the Effect of Smoking Cigarettes.” Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, 30 Mar. 2017, tobacco.ucsf.edu/first-evidence-e-cig-use-increases-heart-attacks-independent-effect-smoking-cigarettes.
Mammoser. E-Cig Flavors Toxic - Healthline.com. 2018, www.healthline.com/health-news/vaping-may-be-worse-for-your-lungs-than-you-think.
Raloff, Janet. “Vaping May Threaten Brain, Immunity and More.” Science News for Students, 28 Oct. 2016, www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/vaping-may-threaten-brain-immunity-and-more.
Rehan, Harmeet Singh, et al. “Vaping versus Smoking: A Quest for Efficacy and Safety of E-Cigarette.” Current Drug Safety, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29485005.
Toussaint, Kent. “Are Vape Pens Dangerous?” Teen Counseling, Child & Teen Therapy, Parenting in Woodland Hills CA, 2014, www.teentherapycenter.com/teen-therapy-blog/43-are-vape-pens-dangers.
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