When e-cigarettes hit the market, many people assumed they were a safe alternative to traditional smoking. Though they are better than tobacco cigarettes, there is still debate about which kind of e-cigarette is the safest.
Traditional Cigarettes vs. E-Cigarettes
E-cigarettes, or electronic nicotine delivery systems, are small, handheld devices. They look like cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or pens. The device heats a liquid that has nicotine and various other chemicals enough so that the liquid turns into vapor. The vapor is inhaled and exhaled like cigarette smoke. They have become extremely popular since they came out in 2004. By 2014, approximately 3.7% of adults were using e-cigarettes and a reported 12.6% had tried them.
It is hotly debated whether e-cigarettes have addictive qualities and are harmful or not. E-cigarettes have been proven to be less dangerous than actual burning tobacco smoke, but they are still considered dangerous for young people because they contain nicotine and can lead to tobacco addiction.
While e-cigarettes have less harsh, less concentrated nicotine than traditional cigarettes, the vapor emits a variety of harmful toxins. The Food and Drug Administration does not have a lot of regulations about what e-cigarettes contain, so e-cigarette companies are not required to release information about what they are putting in the liquid inside the device.
Researchers have found evidence that e-cigarettes can contribute to cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory illness, and oral diseases. Using e-cigarettes will increase your heart rate and blood pressure in the moment, but researchers have not been able to concretely prove any long-term effects.
The initial praise of e-cigarettes was that they would help people quit who are addicted to traditional cigarettes. Reports have found that it does have this effect on some people. Other research has found that, while they can sometimes help people who want to quit, they are more helpful for people who simply want to cut down on their cigarette smoking.
The FDA mandated in 2016 that you must be 18 to purchase e-cigarettes. However, many people are arguing that the age should be pushed back to 21 because of the risk of teenagers developing addiction. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 20% of high school students used at least one tobacco product recently, e-cigarettes being the most commonly used. The study also showed that 11% of high school students had used an e-cigarette in the past 30 days; 8% of high school students said that they smoked traditional cigarettes.
Which E-Cig Is Safest?
While there is still debate about exactly how harmful e-cigarettes are, there are some studies about e-cigarettes that indicate some are safer to use than others.
Virginia Commonwealth University conducted a study on the effects different types of e-cigarette vapors had on tadpoles. The study exposed the tadpoles to six kinds of vapor. The ones that did less damage had fewer chemicals. They found that the flavors with fruit and cream overtones were the most damaging.
There has also been research about exploding e-cigarettes. Though not common, people have reported e-cigarette explosions. The safest e-cigarettes are disposable e-cigarettes. There is a much smaller chance of misusing these in any way and putting yourself in danger of an explosion.
Why Florida Residents Should Approach E-Cigarettes With Caution
Though e-cigarettes may seem safer than traditional cigarettes, they do raise some serious concerns – even the safest of them. If you or someone you love has suffered because of a dependency on e-cigarettes, speak with a personal injury attorney in Fort Lauderdale. Be sure to document any medical care that’s been necessary and consider what this dependency has cost you so that you can be awarded all that you deserve.
