The Risks of Vaping

It’s likely that you’ve heard a lot about vaping lately. You may also be aware of the recent surge in lung damage and fatalities in the United States associated with vaping. However, there are other hazards associated with vaping as well. What you should know is as follows.

Vaping devices exist in a variety of forms and sizes and are also referred to as e-cigarettes, vape pens, and e-hookahs, among other names. Some have a shape akin to classic pipes, cigars, or cigarettes. Others have shapes resembling commonplace items like USB memory sticks or pencils.

Despite having diverse designs, the majority of vaping devices function similarly. Puffing turns on a heating appliance that runs on batteries. This causes the liquid in a cartridge to heat up and release inhaled fumes.

The lungs are exposed to numerous substances when vaping. These could include flavorings, additional substances added to vaping liquids, and the primary active elements in tobacco (nicotine) and marijuana (THC). Furthermore, the vaporizing process might result in the production of additional compounds.

Dr. Thomas Eissenberg, a tobacco research specialist at Virginia Commonwealth University, says that if a liquid contains nicotine, the user is also inhaling nicotine along with the other chemicals.

Although most vaping devices function in a similar way, some are more potent than others. They distribute more chemicals and produce more vapor.

How secure is vaping then? Research indicates that switching from traditional cigarettes to vaping as a full replacement for smoking may reduce the risks associated with nicotine use. However, vaping nicotine may still be harmful to your health.

“Your lungs aren’t meant to deal with the constant challenge of non-air that people are putting into them—sometimes as many as 200 puffs a day—day after day, week after week, year after year,” Eissenberg says.

“You’re inhaling propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavorants that were meant to be eaten but not inhaled, and nicotine,” he explains. “And all of those are heated up in this little reactor, which is an e-cigarette. When they get heated up, those components can turn into other potentially dangerous chemicals.”

One harmful chemical may be a thickening agent called Vitamin E acetate, which is sometimes used as an additive in THC-containing vape products. The CDC identified it as a “chemical of concern” among people with vaping-associated lung injuries. They recommend avoiding any vaping product containing Vitamin E acetate or THC, particularly those from informal sources like friends, family, or in-person or online dealers.

Vaping is now more popular among teens than smoking traditional cigarettes. One in four high school seniors say they vaped nicotine in the past month. And studies have found that teens who vape nicotine may be more likely to go on to smoke traditional cigarettes.

Marijuana vaping has also increased dramatically among teens. About 20% of high school seniors vaped marijuana in the past year. The rates have more than doubled in the past two years. New laws are aimed at curbing vaping among teens. People must now be 21 to buy any tobacco product, including vaping products. And companies can no longer produce and sell flavors that appeal to children like fruit and mint.

It’s never too late to stop smoking or vaping cigarettes if you’ve already started. For advice on how to stop, refer to the Wise Choices box.