Be wary of tobacco “shells”
E-cigarettes, which have been called a “safe alternative to tobacco” since they first entered the market, are really safe? Numerous studies have provided the answer.
To know how e-cigarettes are harmful, you need to understand how they work. In layman’s terms, let’s first understand how this thing without ignition can smoke.
Electronic cigarettes are a kind of electronic products imitating cigarettes, most of them are composed of liquid smoke (containing nicotine, flavorings, solvents, such as propylene glycol), power supply, atomization parts and control units. Under the action of the power supply and control unit, the liquid is atomized by heat to form smoke and inhalable aerosols (in common parlance, smoke), thus producing an experience similar to that of using cigarettes.
The smoke and aerosols inhaled by a person while using an e-cigarette are not safe.
Cigarette smoke contains carcinogens
The e-cigarette liquid contains carbonyl compounds such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Formaldehyde is highly carcinogenic and inhibits the movement of cilia in respiratory epithelial cells, thus causing damage to the respiratory tract. It has been found that the concentration of carbonyl compounds such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde increases significantly as the temperature of the liquid increases.
In addition, tobacco-specific nitrosamines have been detected in e-cigarette liquid, and some of the nitrosamine components have been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization as class I carcinogens.
Aerosols contain toxic substances
The aerosol of e-cigarettes also contains toxic substances. Heavy metal elements such as tin, copper, nickel, arsenic, and copper can be detected in the aerosol, and as heavy metal elements accumulate in the body, they can cause damage to health, especially the nervous system. Although the nanoparticles of e-cigarette aerosols are small in mass, the health hazards may be even greater when inhaled into the lungs.
Smoke is cytotoxic
E-cigarette smoke is cytotoxic. Cells exposed to e-cigarette smoke are more prone to DNA damage and death. Harmful components in the aerosol of e-cigarettes can impair the function of cilia in normal human bronchial epithelial cells, and prolonged exposure to such substances can be detrimental to human health, especially lung health.
In addition, some researchers have found that e-cigarette smoke and aerosols have obvious cytotoxicity to human lung fibroblasts, lung epithelial cells (A549) and human embryonic stem cells, and different brands and flavors of e-cigarettes have cytotoxicity, which can lead to apoptosis and cell damage, etc., so that people should recognize the fact that e-cigarettes can be detrimental to health.
Recognizing Flavored “Sugar Coatings”
What is more harmful about the “flavor” of e-cigarettes than the e-cigarettes themselves?
The obvious danger is that flavored e-cigarettes are increasing the number of teenagers using e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are flavored with different flavors, such as menthol and fruit, which greatly increase their appeal to teens. Some studies have shown that teens who use e-cigarettes are more than twice as likely to become cigarette users in the future as those who do not use e-cigarettes.
E-cigarette flavorings also endanger the health of every user. A wide variety of e-cigarette flavors are available on the market, but the ingredients of these flavors are unclear. Manufacturers usually don’t give out the recipe for the flavorings, claiming it’s a “trade secret”. Some manufacturers label the flavors as safe additives or food-grade.
Food-grade flavorings sound safe and risk-free. However, it is important to note that food enters the digestive system after ingestion, whereas smoke enters the respiratory system after ingestion, so the safety standards for the two are naturally different.
Some researchers tested e-cigarettes containing different varieties of flavoring agents and concentrations, and the results showed that free radicals-like substances produced in e-cigarette smoke were positively correlated with the concentration of flavoring agents, and the release of free radicals increased as the concentration of flavoring agents increased. Free radicals trigger oxidative stress in the body, which plays an important role in pathological processes such as inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, lipid abnormalities and platelet activation.
How is such a flavored e-cigarette not sugar-coated?
The variety of novel flavors makes e-cigarettes seductive. In fact, the tobacco industry has long produced menthol-flavored cigarettes, and the popularity of flavored e-cigarettes is just the result of the same old trick.
The most effective way to avoid falling into the trap of potentially confusing marketing campaigns is to stay away from any form of tobacco and eliminate any degree of harm from smoking.