What are the harms of vaping? Don’t believe these myths

On July 10, 2018, 162 passengers on Air China experienced a terrifying moment when the co-pilot secretly smoked an e-cigarette in the cabin.

　　Although e-cigarettes are banned on planes, have you ever heard that "e-cigarettes are harmless" or "the ultimate smoking cessation tool"? Want to give a "chain smoker" who has failed to quit smoking a thousand times a puff?

　　The trend of e-cigarettes has swept into China from Europe and America.
　　It is said that in the past two years, there have been 2,000 retail experience stores for e-cigarettes nationwide. Walking down the street, seeing shops with "vapor" or "Vape" signs, there is a good chance they are selling e-cigarettes.

　　The main users of e-cigarettes are young people. They resemble cigarettes but are not, have a fashionable appearance, and can be used in any setting without losing style, making it feel justified to puff out clouds of vapor.

　　Structure: Composed of three parts: the vape pen, atomizer, and battery.

　　Appearance: Some look like cigarettes or cigars, while others resemble pens, screwdrivers, or hookahs.

　　Principle: The battery heats the atomizer, which vaporizes the e-liquid to simulate the smoke of traditional smoking.

　　E-cigarette enthusiasts call themselves Vapers, meaning "cloud chasers," who enjoy blowing big smoke rings.

　　Can it help quit smoking? Not necessarily.

　　Why do Chinese people smoke e-cigarettes? According to a survey by the China Business Industry Research Institute, about half of users do so to quit smoking. Can e-cigarettes fulfill this wish?

　　Experts point out that the essence of cigarette addiction is nicotine addiction, and quitting smoking means quitting nicotine. Currently, the clinically recognized method for quitting smoking by the World Health Organization is nicotine replacement therapy, which involves gradually reducing nicotine intake to achieve cessation.

　　In other words, if the nicotine content in e-cigarettes is lower than that in cigarettes and can be gradually reduced, it is possible to quit smoking.

　　Some calculations have been made—

　　Currently, the nicotine content in commercially available e-cigarettes comes in three levels: 16mg, 11mg, and 6mg per milliliter. One milliliter of e-liquid can be inhaled for about 300 puffs.

　　The nicotine content in a single cigarette ranges from 0.5mg to 2.4mg, and a cigarette can be inhaled for about 10 to 15 puffs.

　　Theoretically, the nicotine intake from a puff of e-cigarette is indeed less than that of a cigarette.

　　But what about the reality? Numerous studies abroad have shown that it does not necessarily lead to quitting smoking.

　　In 2011, a joint survey conducted by the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia found that while the amount of smoking significantly decreased after using e-cigarettes, the success rate of quitting smoking did not improve.

　　Some studies have even shown that e-cigarette users have a higher level of nicotine dependence.

　　The FDA in the United States has stated that there is no evidence proving that e-cigarettes are safe and effective in helping people quit smoking.

　　Why is this the case? Dr. Yang Jiasheng pointed out an important reason:

　　E-cigarettes currently lack product standards, and the nicotine content in commercially available e-cigarettes is not fixed; the containers of e-cigarettes are filled by users themselves, and the nicotine concentration is determined by the user, which may not be as low as people think. Even if the content is low, if the number of puffs increases, it does not help with quitting smoking.

　　These harmful substances come solely from e-cigarettes.

　　Some may think that even if e-cigarettes cannot help quit smoking, at least they are safer. As merchants claim, e-cigarettes contain "water vapor" and can "cleanse the lungs."

　　But this claim has been refuted by Dr. Yang Jiasheng.

　　E-cigarettes do not contain tobacco and do not burn, so they do have fewer harmful substances than traditional tobacco. However, e-cigarettes are not necessarily less harmful. There are several substances that are often overlooked.

　　★ Nicotine: Vaporization may accelerate harm.

　　Nicotine is also a highly toxic substance. It can harm heart health, affect the brain development of adolescents, and if pregnant women consume nicotine, it can affect fetal development.

　　Vaporized nicotine can enter the bloodstream faster, affecting the heart and brain, and the extent of harm is still unknown.

　　★ Flavorings: Can cause "popcorn lung."

　　Are e-cigarettes without nicotine safe? #p#分页标题#e#

　　Not necessarily. It is understood that over 8,000 flavoring ingredients are used in e-cigarettes. Most flavoring agents meet food safety standards, but when inhaled in vapor form into the lungs, their adverse effects are unknown. Some are unknown, while others are already known to be harmful.

　　Dr. Yang specifically pointed out one flavoring ingredient: diacetyl.

　　Diacetyl is used to release a buttery aroma when food is heated. The buttery aroma in popcorn comes from diacetyl added to the corn kernels.
　　Inhaling diacetyl can lead to a terrifying lung disease—"popcorn lung" (obstructive bronchiolitis). Patients may experience mild breathing difficulties and persistent coughing; severe cases can lead to lung tissue fibrosis, loss of function, and even death.

　　Alarmingly, a study has found that 75% of e-cigarette samples contained diacetyl.

　　★ Propylene glycol and glycerin: Risks are still unknown.

　　Even if you use good e-liquids, can you use e-cigarettes with peace of mind?

　　Dr. Yang pointed out that as long as there is e-liquid, propylene glycol and food-grade glycerin are involved.

　　Propylene glycol (or glycerol) makes up over 90% of e-liquid and is a solvent for nicotine; glycerin mainly serves to produce vapor—the more glycerin, the larger the vapor cloud.

　　These two substances are safe for consumption in food but do not guarantee that inhaling them will not irritate the lungs, especially the long-term adverse effects on the human body are still unknown.

　　★ Vape pen: May contain formaldehyde.

　　Many e-cigarettes have metal vape pens, which are coated with various colorful paints for aesthetic appeal.

　　These materials may contain carcinogenic formaldehyde, which can be inhaled into the lungs while using e-cigarettes.

　　★ Ultrafine particles: May be carcinogenic.

　　The harmful substances produced by e-cigarettes also include ultrafine particles associated with lung cancer and asthma, carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines, and carcinogenic carbonyl compounds.

　　Although the concentrations of these components are significantly lower than those in regular cigarettes, some e-cigarette products have higher concentrations.

　　There is also "secondhand smoke."

　　Some people switch to e-cigarettes to protect their families from the harms of secondhand smoke.

　　Dr. Yang pointed out that e-cigarettes also emit fine particles, nicotine, and other harmful substances. Although the content is lower than that of traditional cigarettes, exposure to secondhand e-cigarette vapor should still be avoided.

　　The World Health Organization has also pointed out that if the skin of e-cigarette users comes into contact with e-liquid, poisoning can occur, and children may ingest these liquids. Such poisoning incidents have already occurred in the United States and the United Kingdom.