Are e-cigarettes a safer alternative to regular cigarette
E-cigarettes are devices powered by batteries that turn into vapor a liquid, known as e-liquid or vapor juice, producing a vapor puffed by consumers. Many liquids contain flavoring and nicotine in a range of concentrations–but not tobacco–although many liquid producers do sell varieties free of nicotine. The devices come in many forms and go by various names, including vape pens, e-hookah, mods, and tanks. The devices are often advertised as a healthier alternative to cigarettes and represent an increasing market segment for nicotine or tobacco-containing products. But it is not clear what health impact these alternative products have. E-cigarette use is one of the most recent public health concerns today. Nowadays, the use of e-cigarettes has become common, leading to the debate as to whether they are a safe alternative to cigarettes.
About one in five adult smokers in the United States have tried an electronic cigarette. According to a CDC report, approximately 3.7 per cent of adults use e-cigarettes every day or some days. CDC also estimates about one in six current smokers of cigarettes and almost one in four former smokers of cigarettes who have recently quit using e-cigarettes. The use of e-cigarettes by teenagers is higher. As a result of these products ‘ growing popularity, the public health community has started to raise safety issues.
Studies show e-cigarette use is potentially a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. Experts generally consider vaping to be a less risky choice given the long list of hazardous and toxic chemicals in cigarettes. However, that doesn’t mean these researchers believe e-cigarette use is either safe or suitable. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
There are several reasons why experts are not sure that e-cigarettes are safe for health. To begin with, e-cigarettes contain potentially hazardous chemicals. Many e-cigarettes contain nicotine, and studies show that the substance is addictive. The research found that nicotine in e-cigarettes would disrupt the heart cells, potentially causing heart disease. Nicotine use can harm the development of the brain on young adults and teenagers, including impacts on working memory and attention. It can also cause sudden infant death syndrome.
Other chemicals include formaldehyde, a carcinogen, lead, a neurotoxin, silicate particles that can cause lung disease, cancer-related nitrosamines, propylene glycol and vegetable glycerol, which are ingredients commonly used in anti-freeze and diacetyl, buttery-flavoured chemicals regularly added to foods, for example, popcorn, honey and dairy foodstuffs that can cause severe and permanent lung problems.
Another big concern with e-cigarettes is how they are marketed to young people. E-cigarette use is strongly associated with the youth and young adults ‘ use of other nicotine and tobacco products. The e-cigarette flavors are the primary reason young adults and kids use them, and the aerosol used in e-cigarettes is not healthy.
Poisoning is another concern surrounding e-cigarettes. Calls for e-cigarette exposure poisoning to the nation’s poison control centres are rapidly increasing according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A research found that even though most e-cigarette liquid poisoning calls were the result of ingestion of the e-cigarette or its liquid accidentally, only one-sixth of the calls allied to someone gasping the vapor.
Second emission effect is another matter of concern. Even though e-cigarettes do not produce smoke, they do render others to secondhand pollution. Research has detected formaldehyde, benzene, and tobacco-specific nitrosamines in these secondhand emissions. Nine states, the District of Columbia and several societies have currently banned e-cigarette use in zones where smoking is already banned.
Again, e-cigarette use is not a proven way of quitting smoking. While several e-cigarette corporations are marketing their product as a means to assist smokers in stopping, no e-cigarette has been approved by the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research as a safe way to help smokers quit. Most e-cigarette users continue to smoke cigarettes instead of stopping. According to a Surgeon General’s 2015 report, 58.8 per cent of people using e-cigarettes recently also continued to smoke cigarettes.
Finally, e-cigarettes can catch fire or even explode. E-cigarette explosions have resulted in eye, tongue and teeth loss, third-degree burns, mouth roof holes, and even passing away. Academics at George Mason University established that between 2015 and 2017, more than two thousand people needed ER treatment for fire or explosion injuries from e-cigarettes. One hundred and ninety-five instances of e-cigarette explosions and fires comprising more than one hundred casualties were reported by the Fire Administration (USFA).a
To conclude, although widely accepted as a better substitute for cigarettes from tobacco, e-cigarettes are not considered healthy. The side effects of using e-cigarettes greatly outweigh the one able to clean up smokers from cigarettes. The use of e-cigarette still can cause several other health problems and diseases, though not as severe as tobacco, and has led to death in some cases. Not only the smokers themselves, but the people who walk by also get their health put at risk, so that makes it a problem for society. Besides, the percentage of e-cigarette users will also shoot up, with teens exposed to e-cigarettes.