E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that heat a liquid to create a vapor that you inhale. They contain nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerin, and flavorings. Nicotine is an addictive drug and can cause harm to the lungs. It can also affect the brain development of youth and young adults, which can lead to addiction and raise the risk of using other drugs.
E-cigarette use is increasing in many places, including schools. It’s important to talk to kids about the dangers of e-cigarettes and how to stay safe.
The longer e-cigarettes and other ENDS (electronic nicotine delivery systems) are on the market, the more we learn about their effects on health. E-cigarettes can cause burns, poisonings, and lung damage. They can also harm people by exposing them to harmful chemicals. And they may not help you quit smoking. Many people think e-cigarettes are safer than cigarettes, but the truth is that they’re not. E-cigarettes can give you a nicotine high and may make it harder to quit smoking.
Research on the toxicity of e-cigarette vapors is limited, but a recent study found that e-cigarette vapours were more toxic to human gingival fibroblasts than cigarette smoke and that e-cigarette vapours contained nicotine-rich and nicotine-free components. Another study found that e-cigarette aerosols were more toxic to human airway epithelial cells than cigarette smoke. This study found that the most toxic e-cigarette aerosols were nicotine-rich and included a chemical known to cause cancer.
A creme brulee flavoured e-cigarette aerosol was found to contain high concentrations of benzoic acid, which is a respiratory irritant and induces cell death in BEAS-2B and H292 human lung epithelial cells. A study found that the most cytotoxic e-cigarette flavouring chemicals were CAD, maltol, and O-vanillin, while acetoin and diacetyl were less toxic.
Studies on e-cigarette vapours have also found that they can have short-term effects on platelets and neutrophils. For example, e-cigarettes can increase the levels of the inflammatory molecules soluble CD40 ligand and P-selectin and promote platelet activation. Similarly, e-cigarettes can activate neutrophils by increasing the expression of the proteins CD11b and CD66b. Moreover, studies have also found that e-cigarettes can reduce vascular endothelial function, causing oxidative stress and impairment of endothelial-vascular integrity [8,9].
E-cigarettes are not safe for children, youth, and young adults. They can cause serious injuries and even fires if they’re used near other flammable items. They can also pose a threat to others when they’re used in public or while driving. 電子煙