The Safety Of Electronic Cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes arose as an effort to find alternative methods to reduce the harm tobacco products cause. The more experts study them, the more questions come up about safety. So it seems that instead of providing benefits, they may actually cause harm.

However, some still advocate their use. It is therefore a good idea to be informed in order to make sound decisions regarding electronic cigarettes.

Electronic Cigarettes: Good or Bad?

It is not easy to understand the potential effects of electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes. In fact , there are many different types, and in many cases the contents of the liquid are unclear.

Although electronic cigarettes contain no tobacco, they are classified as “tobacco products” by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) . This way you can imagine its health effects and impact. Read a Spanish article from the FDA about e-cigarettes here.

They emerged as an option to replace conventional cigarettes. However, there is no scientific evidence to explain their safety or effectiveness when it comes to smoking cessation.

That is why the Argentinian National Administration of Drugs, Foods, and Medical Devices (ANMAT) has even sanctioned a ban on their importation, distribution and marketing. This is also a sign of the safety concerns associated with the use of electronic cigarettes. Read the Spanish article here.

Available types of electronic cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes are available in many shapes and sizes, such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes, pens or USB sticks. Whatever they look like, these electronic cigarettes all have the following parts:

• a battery that turns on the device.
• a heating element that heats the e-liquid and turns it into an aerosol.

• a cartridge or a tank containing the e-liquid.
• an opening used to inhale the aerosol.

The origin of new verbs

The word ‘vape’ refers to inhaling the ‘aerosol’ of an electronic cigarette. The Spanish Association for Pulmonary Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) and the National Committee for Smoking Prevention (NPTC) have warned of the associated risks and safety concerns of vaping, noting the following:

“It is not a method to quit smoking. Its use is harmful to health and can become a gateway to smoking.”

It is important to be aware of the effects

It is important to use appropriate sources to collect data from the scientific literature. In an article published by the presidents of the NPTC and SEPAR, the authors gathered evidence on these and other issues regarding electronic cigarettes related to the:

• toxicity.
• addictiveness.
• usefulness of these devices to help people quit smoking.

The authors noted that:

In short, there are still differing opinions about the use of electronic cigarettes, and they are not quite sure about their short-term and long-term effects.

Recommendations

The General Directorate of Health and Addiction of the Region of Murcia has made the following recommendations regarding the use of electronic cigarettes:

• First, it is recommended that all people, especially children and adolescents, avoid the use of these cigarettes.
• In addition, it is best to avoid using these devices, with or without nicotine, in public areas.
• In addition, the use of electronic cigarettes to quit smoking is not recommended.

We hope you found this article on the use of electronic cigarettes helpful and that you think carefully before making the decision to use these cigarettes.