E-cigarettes were originally designed to help adults with smoking cessation. Research has shown that vaping does not help people to quit smoking tobacco cigarettes; e-cigarette smokers continue to vape and smoke tobacco cigarettes too (AMA). Vaping is just a different submission route to get the nicotine to your brain. Plus, the harmful chemicals in e-cigarettes can damage lung tissue, provoking inflammation. Such damage reduces the lung's ability to keep out germs and other harmful substances.
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs), include e-pens, e-pipes, e-hookah, and e-cigars are known as “ENDS”- Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems. These items allow users to inhale an aerosol that contains nicotine and other chemicals. Typically they’re battery operated and use a heating element to charge the liquid from a refillable cartridge that releases the aerosol. The liquid in an e-cig cartridge is extracted from tobacco and mixed with a base and flavorings and colors are added (AMA). Aside from the many chemicals that are in e-cig liquid (e-juice), the base of e-juice is propylene glycol. Propylene glycol is a synthetic solution designed to absorb liquid. It’s used in certain medicines, cosmetics, food products, paint, and plastics, and it’s used to create artificial smoke for fog machines. It has an anti-freeze like effect on the products it’s mixed with. Propylene glycol is found in most cosmetic products, shampoos, and conditioners. When used properly in small doses, in beauty products there is little harm unless it gets inside of your body; if that would happen any harmful effects should be gone within 48 hours. However, longterm exposure from it will cause an irritant to the exposed area. Therefore, constant inhalation could pose a threat to your lungs.
There are 42 other chemicals found in e-cig juice with the six following also found in second-hand vapor smoke: Benzene, Diethylene Glycol, Formaldehyde, Isoprene, Nicotine, and N-Nitrosonornicotine.
Benzene also found in emissions from burning coal, oil, gasoline, and motor vehicle exhaust. Chronic inhalation has caused blood disorders, headaches, and respiratory tract irritation. Higher levels of exposure can cause adverse effects on a developing fetus, and an increased incidence of leukemia.
Diethylene Glycol is a chemical used in antifreeze and causes eye and respiratory tract irritation with chronic exposure causing negative effects to unborn fetuses.
Formaldehyde is a chemical that is used in building materials and to produce household products like pressed wood and fuel-burning appliances. It’s been classified a human carcinogen which is a cancer-causing substance). Studies of workers exposed to formaldehyde have shown an increase several cancers which include nasopharyngeal and leukemia.
Isoprene is a component that is used to make synthetic rubber. It’s been detected in tobacco smoke and automobile exhaust. In studies, isoprene caused cancer in several organs after long-term inhalation.
Nicotine is a natural toxic chemical found in tobacco plants. At one time, nicotine was used as an insecticide and fumigant. Nicotine affects the nervous system and the heart. Exposure to even small amounts can be fatal. Nicotine interferes with teens developing brains, and it’s the component that causes addiction.
N-Nitrosonornicotine is a chemical substance known to cause cancer. A complete list of all 42 chemicals can be found: http://www.gaspforair.org/gasp...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looked at data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey. Researchers found that 24% of middle and high school students said they had been exposed to e-cig vapors indoor and outdoor at least once in the previous 30 days; 24% is 6.5 million students (Preidt, 2017). If second-hand vapors are known to cause illness and diseases, just think of the harm that could come to a person who inhales e-juice vapor on a regular basis.
A study from 2014 concluded that e-cigarettes contain high levels of carcinogen cancer causing agents. The flavors in e-juice are designed to target kids and are harmful and poisonous if it were to seep into a person's eyes, skin, or mouth. E-cigarette manufacturers claim it’s safe because the same ingredient used for food is in there. However, just because low levels of a certain product are in food, it doesn’t mean it’s safe to inhale. For example, diacetyl, a flavoring sometimes found in popcorn, caramel, or dairy products have been found in some e-juices. Diacetyl can cause a serious irreversible lung disease called, popcorn lung. The U.S. Surgeon General said that the juice flavoring is the reason that youth and young adults vape (AMA).
Vaping among U.S. youths is on a steady increase. The U.S. Surgeon General found that e-cig use among teens increased 900% (AMA). Teenagers seem unconcerned with the risks associated with vaping. Even a student who vapes just “juice” without nicotine is exposing themselves to the toxic carcinogens used to make e-juice. Large tobacco has been aggressively marketing tobacco cigarettes to youth for years, and now the same is happening with e-cigs. E-cig manufacturers offer candy and pronounced fruit flavor juices. Plus, kids can buy e-cigs right online.
In conclusion, it took us years to figure out that tobacco cigarettes were not good for us despite the advertising that suggested they were. Big tobacco fought lawyers and paid big bucks to keep the bad press out of the limelight. However, there were too many people diagnosed and dying from heart disease and cancer, that the sobering truth outweighed their efforts to sweep bad press under the rug. The truth finally came out, tobacco cigarettes were bad. We still know that today. It doesn’t stop people from smoking. Currently, e-cigarettes are so new that there is little research to know just what atrocities may arise. Therefore, people still believe that e-cigarettes are good for you. Also, many long-time tobacco smokers also vape, therefore, if a disease were contracted it would probably be attributed to tobacco cigarettes. More and more people are starting to vape and not smoke tobacco cigarettes; therefore, it may take a few more years before we start to see the terrible effects that the 42 harmful chemicals will cause.
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