E-cigarettes Also Have “Secondhand” Harm

E-cigarettes are often advertised as safe and smoke-free. Some studies believe that inhalation of e-cigarette aerosol is less toxic than second-hand smoke from ordinary tobacco, but few studies have focused on the effects of e-cigarette aerosol on non-users. These aerosols contain nicotine, metal particles, silicate particles and other substances.

An analysis by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) showed that almost one-third of adverse event reports for e-cigarettes were related to second-hand exposure. While this number is gradually increasing, adverse events related to e-cigarettes are also consistent with respiratory irritation, nicotine exposure and possible nicotine toxicity.

Beth Durmowicz, FDA health official, said at the recent 2014 American Academy of Pediatrics National Exhibition: We need to further understand not only the impact of e-cigarettes on users, but also the impact of e-cigarettes on non-users.

The study recommends that, like traditional tobacco, parents should keep their children away from e-cigarettes and avoid using or filling them near teenagers.Durmowicz said that some of the adverse events of e-cigarettes are consistent with nicotine toxicity.

Of the 90 adverse event reports submitted to the FDA between January 1, 2012 and June 30, 2014, 33 were related to non-users (see the figure below for details).

The growing number of adverse incidents is likely to reflect the growing popularity of e-cigarettes, and the increased impact on non-users has also attracted the attention of relevant agencies. As Durmowicz said: We are seeing more and more reports of negative exposure, and this is what has caught our attention.# p#pagination title #e#

Adverse Event Reporting

Judith Groner, an attending physician at the National Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, said at the meeting: These are just emerging data. This is an unknown area, but it has a significant impact on policy. Like traditional tobacco, it is likely that e-cigarettes will eventually be banned in public places.

Groner pointed out that most people think that e-cigarettes are safe, but do we really understand this? All complaints observed by researchers so far are related to respiratory effects, and more descriptive research is needed in the next step, but it may be too late to attract attention by then.