Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling the water vapor produced by an electric device called an e-cigarette or vaporizer.
The device delivers a nicotine hit by heating a nicotine-containing propylene glycol (also used in antifreeze) to create an aerosol, usually called vapor, which is inhaled.
There are over Forty harmful chemicals identified in electronic cigarettes including Acetone, Benzene (found in pesticides and gasoline), Phenol, Propylene Glycol and Toluene (a poisonous industrial solvent).
12.6% of U.S. adults have tried an e-cigarette and about 3.7% use them daily.
School officials are struggling to control an explosion of vaping among high school and middle school students across the country. Researchers fear the devices are creating a new generation of nicotine addicts.
The most popular E-Cig is the JUUL which is a sleek high-tech design that resembles a flash drive.
Most E-Cigarettes come in a variety of flavors such as fruity flavors making it more appealing for underage people.
More than 3.5 million middle and high school students were current users of e-cigarettes in 2017.
Teens who used e-cigs are 6 times more likely to try cigarettes.
Although research into e-cigarettes is still in its infancy there are many studies that have proven the negative effects of daily use.
• E-cigarette’s contain toxic substances and nanoparticles that could kill the top layer of skin cells in the oral cavity.
• Aerosols produced by e-cigarettes contain dangerous levels of hazardous chemicals that are known to cause cancer in humans.
• E-cigarette’s can cause Stomatitis also known as Smoker’s palatal keratosis which is inflammation of the mouth and lips. This will reverse itself if the smoking is discontinued.
• Another common effect is Xerostomia also known as dry mouth. Xerostomia can lead to dental caries/cavities, Halitosis (foul odor of the mouth), and many other issues.
• Many users complain of having a dry cough and do not realize it is from the continued use of the e-cig.
• A recent study suggests “flavorings used in e-cigarettes harm blood vessel cells in a way that could trigger future heart damages.
• The flavorings damaged the heart-protective functions of endothelial cells, which line inside of the blood vessels and the heart.
• While these flavoring chemicals boast an FDA rating of “generally recognized as safe,” it is important to note that this refers to ingestion NOT inhalation.
• Many of the side effects are reversible when you discontinue use of the e-cig, however many are irreversible and sometimes fatal.
If you are using an e-cig be sure to know all of the side effects as well as the correct way to use one. As of 2016 there were 187 e-cig explosions 4 of which were fatalities.
• 53% of explosions resulted in severe burns.
• 44% resulted in property damage.
• Many of the explosions caused the users teeth to simply be blown right out of their mouths, severe hand and facial burns, fractured bones and even loss of eyesight.
• A case in January of this year (2017) caused a young man to lose 7 teeth and suffer severe oral burns as well as facial.
Almost all of the explosions were caused due to the user not using the charger that came with the device. By doing so the battery overcharges causing it to explode.
