Is E-cigarette Vapor Harmful to Pregnant Women?

Is E-cigarette Vapor Harmful to Pregnant Women?

1. Using electronic cigarettes is unsafe for children, teenagers, and pregnant women.

2. Most electronic cigarettes contain nicotine, which is an addictive substance found in regular cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products. Using nicotine during adolescence may also increase the risk of future addiction; young people who use electronic cigarettes are more likely to smoke in the future.

3. Nicotine affects the developing adolescent brain. Using nicotine during adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, emotions, and impulse control until about the age of 25.

4. Nicotine poses health risks to pregnant women and their developing babies.
Is electronic cigarette vapor less harmful than regular cigarettes?

1. Yes.

2. This does not mean that electronic cigarettes are safe. The vapor from electronic cigarettes typically contains fewer harmful substances than the lethal mix of 7,000 chemicals found in regular cigarette smoke.

3. Electronic cigarette vapor is not harmless. It may contain harmful and potentially harmful substances, including nicotine and volatile organic compounds.

Can electronic cigarettes help adults quit smoking?

1. Electronic cigarettes have not yet been approved by the FDA as a smoking cessation tool.

2. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a group of health experts that makes recommendations about preventive health care, has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to recommend electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation in adults (including pregnant women).

3. If used as a complete substitute for all cigarettes and other tobacco products, electronic cigarettes may help non-pregnant adult smokers.

So far, the few studies on this issue have yielded mixed results.

▼ A Cochrane review of two randomized controlled trials found that nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes can help smokers quit long-term compared to placebo (non-nicotine) electronic cigarettes. However, existing studies have limitations, including a small number of trials, small sample sizes, and a wide margin of error in estimates.

▼ A recent CDC study found that many adults are using electronic cigarettes in an attempt to quit smoking. However, most adult electronic cigarette users do not stop smoking; instead, they continue to use both products (known as "dual use"). Dual use of electronic cigarettes and other tobacco products is not an effective way to protect your health. Smoking a few cigarettes a day can be very harmful, and completely quitting smoking is crucial for protecting your health.
Who is using electronic cigarettes?

Electronic cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among young people.

In the U.S., young people are more likely to use electronic cigarettes than adults.

▼ In 2018, over 3.6 million U.S. middle school students used electronic cigarettes in the past 30 days, with 4.9% of middle school students and 20.8% of high school students reporting use.

▼ In 2017, 2.8% of U.S. adults were current electronic cigarette users.

▼ In 2015, among adult electronic cigarette users, 58.8% were also current regular smokers, 29.8% were former regular smokers, and 11.4% had never been regular cigarette smokers.

▼ Among current electronic cigarette users aged 45 and older in 2015, most were current or former regular smokers, with 1.3% being never smokers. In contrast, among current electronic cigarette users aged 18 to 24, 40.0% had never been regular smokers.

What is the bottom line on using electronic cigarettes?

1. As a complete substitute for cigarettes and other tobacco products, electronic cigarettes have the potential to benefit non-pregnant adult smokers.

2. For current non-tobacco users, including teenagers, pregnant women, or adults, using electronic cigarettes is unsafe and not recommended.

3. While electronic cigarettes may benefit some individuals, scientists still need to understand whether electronic cigarettes are effective for smoking cessation.

4. If you have never smoked or used other tobacco products or electronic cigarettes, do not start.

What are the health effects of using electronic cigarettes?

1. Electronic cigarettes are new, and scientists are still researching their long-term health effects.

2. Most electronic cigarette e-liquids contain nicotine, which affects health. a. Nicotine is highly addictive. b. Nicotine poses health risks to pregnant women and their developing babies. c. Nicotine can harm adolescent brain development, potentially lasting until age 25.

3. Besides nicotine, electronic cigarette vapor may contain harmful substances, although there are fewer harmful chemicals than those produced by burning tobacco products.

4. Electronic cigarettes can lead to accidental injuries. For example, defective electronic cigarette batteries can cause fires and explosions, with most explosions occurring while charging the batteries. The FDA is collecting data to help address this issue.