If you walk around campus, it seems like outside of every main building you can find at least one person “Vaping.” Vaping has been a huge trend among my generation. People vape for all sorts of reasons, some of which include a substitute for traditional tobacco, recreational purposes (fun), and stress relief. Moreover, there is an overwhelming ignorance to the possibility that Vaping might be unhealthy. This ignorance made me wonder if vaping was healthy or not.
First, what is vaping? Vaping in its simplest sense is inhaling water vapor through a vaporizer often referred to as a vape pen. The vapor can come in many different flavors that can be switched around according to some one’s preference. Vapor companies advertise that it is like smoking without many of the down sides of smoking such as repugnant odor, bad breath, ashes, etc. The vaporizer was invented nearly five decades ago but only became popular recently as the popularity of cigarettes plummeted due to increased awareness of health risks. Having said this, is vaping a poor alternative to cigarettes because of other health risks?
Research presented in this year’s American Thoracic Society International Conference displayed that certain flavorings used in electronic cigarette liquid may alter certain lung cells. Research from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill showed that changes in cell viability, cell proliferation, and calcium signaling were flavor dependant. The study took human lung cells and exposed them to thirteen different flavors of E-cigarette liquid. the results showed that five of the flavors had adverse effects on the cells and changed them in some way. The mechanism behind these results is largely unknown, however this study should certainly be looked at when considering the health risks of vaporizers or e-cigs.
Another aspect that must be considered when looking into the health effects of e-cigs is the nicotine that can be inhaled. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance which is often found in tobacco products. That being said, it is possible to get addicted to e-cigs. Thus, if a person attempts to stop using the e-cigs, they will undergo withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, irritability, and nausea. Nicotine is also known to raise users heart rates and blood pressure so it is bad for people’s hearts.
Next, the American Heart Association recently released it’s findings related to e-cigs in their scientific journal. They were testing the overall claim from e-cig companies that “e-cigs are a safe alternative to cigarettes and will help you quit smoking tobacco.” The researchers first found that e-cig users are 30% less likely to quit smoking cigarettes than other smokers. Additionally, the American Heart Association concluded that e-cigs are not as safe as people think. The e-cigs contain many carcinogens present in cigarettes such as formaldehyde and lead that can cause cancer. So, e-cigs are not just delivering water vapor like companies advertise.
Another disturbing aspect of e-cigs is their popularity among young people. The general fear is that many high schoolers who may not smoke normal cigarettes could be attracted to e-cigarettes and form life time addictions. This fear is coming to fruition as 13.4% of all high schoolers report using an e-cigarette in the past 30 days apposed to the 9.2% of high schoolers who report smoking a cigarette in the last 30 days. This 2014 study conducted by the CDC also found that from 2011 to 2014, the amount of e-cig users in high school rose 11.9% and the amount cigarette smokers fell 6.6%. This equates to a net gain of 5.3% of high school students that smoked either e-cigs or cigarettes. Additionally, 90% of all lifetime nicotine habits begin in high school so getting kids hooked on e-cigs with nicotine can not be a positive thing. Moreover, e-cig companies are clearly marketing to a younger generation by creating new appealing vaporizers and advertising places that are often seen by high schoolers.
In conclusion, it is not clear to scientists exactly how bad vaping and e-cigs are for us. They are simply too new of a product for conclusive evidence to be present. However, a simple overview of the chemicals involved and of early trials, suggest that e-cigs may have some similar effects on humans that normal tobacco products do. In my opinion, I would say that e-cigs may be safer than cigarettes, but it is best to simply stay away from both.
Sources:
https://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/post/e-cig-popularity-rise
http://www.drugs.com/sfx/nicotine-side-effects.html
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-05/ats-ecf050815.php
http://www.vapersoul.com/what-is-vaping/
http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20150417202546.shtml
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/youth_data/tobacco_use/
With this trend, for whatever reason, becoming so popular I find this post to be especially relevant. Many of my friends towards my senior year in high school had begun vaping. Now this was typically to “look cool” or whatever reason. However, I have heard of these things to be doing good. Though they may not be completely healthy, they are certainly less harmful than the traditional cigarette. I have seen one of my friends actually retire his addiction to cigarettes due to these vape pens. By gradually lowering the nicotine level in the “juice” that he was using, he was able to wane off his nicotine addiction. Otherwise, this article was very well constructed and I think that your research was appropriate and worth-while. Thank you.
A lot of my friends are now using e-cigs, but in my opinion, e-cigs may actually lead to more dangerous and more harmful for human body. Not because of the elements, but the result of using e-cigs may lead teenagers to use real tobaccos. And because of the different flavors an e-cig may have, it cause more teenagers to fall in love with the e-cigs, and may cause them to smoke more. The large amount of smoking, no matter it is e-cig or not, it may cause harsh consequences.