E-CIGARETTES: TO VAPE OR NOT TO VAPE?

A swanky vaping establishment in Baltimore, USA. PIc: A.Currell (Flickr CC)[/caption]

Posted by Graham_Land in Health, 29 minutes ago

Cigarette smoking is becoming less common among teens in the US, but e-cigarettes and even cigars are experiencing a growth in popularity. On the whole tobacco use is down among American middle school and high school students.

The above information comes from a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) incorporating the National Youth Tobacco Survey. While cigarettes are still the most common form of tobacco used by young people, the use of cigarette alternatives, which are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is growing.

From the Los Angeles Times:

Electronic cigarettes and hookas were also called out as having particular appeal to teens because they are cheaper and because they are seen as “safer” than conventional cigarettes, the researchers wrote. In September, the CDC reported that an estimated 1.78 million children and teens used e-cigarettes in 2012.

While the obvious benefit of e-cigarettes is that they are smokeless (they vaporize liquid nicotine), there have been concerns regarding their safety and efficacy, partly stemming from lack of research and regulation.

In the UK, the public response to e-cigarettes has been largely positive, although the British Medical Association is attempting to have using them or “vaping” banned in public places. Currently vaping is banned on airlines and train companies as well as in the University of London. But these bans partly come from public confusion between vapor and smoke.

From BBC News:

We were heavily influenced by the advice from the BMA. We had people sitting next to each other in cafes and actually saying, ‘Well, you’re smoking, you shouldn’t be smoking in here,’ and arguments were developing. At one point a security guard had to be called. Arguments were developing and you just don’t want that.

– Kim Foster, University of London

So what is all the fuss about?

First of all nicotine, in any form, is a toxic and addictive substance which has been linked to high blood pressure and heart problems. Even smokeless, it is also dangerous during pregnancy. There are also concerns about some of the additives, like propylene glycol, that e-cigarettes contain and that vaping could serve as a gateway to smoking for young people.

Despite these concerns, some experts have come out in favor of e-cigarettes and their potential to save lives as an alternative to smoking.

What do you think about e-cigarettes and their users (“vapers”)? Is it a serious health problem or a cooler, more futuristic alternative to smoking?

Tags: e-cigarettes health, vaping

E-CIGARETTES: TO VAPE OR NOT TO VAPE?