E-CIGARETTES: A Threat to Health
E-cigarettes look like real cigarettes, but do not burn and combust tobacco leaves. An e-cigarette, or vape, is a battery-operated device that heats a liquid to create an aerosol, or “vapour”, that the user inhales.
Also referred to as electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), e-cigarettes come in many shapes and sizes, bright colours, and different flavours (fruit, candy, menthol, mint, etc). They are often marketed as the healthier version of the conventional cigarette. But beware, they are not risk-free.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control, e-cigarette aerosol (a mix of small particles released in the air) is NOT harmless “water vapour”. It can contain harmful and potentially harmful substances, including:
> nicotine, a highly addictive chemical
> cancer-causing chemicals
> heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead
> tiny particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs
> volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Exposure to VOCs is associated with adverse effects including asthma attacks, neurological disorders, and increased risk of cancer.
> flavourings such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease. Some flavourings used in e-cigarettes may be safe to eat but not to inhale because the lungs process substances differently than the gut.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the toxic substances in aerosols from e-cigarettes that you inhale can cause:
- cancer
- cardiovascular diseases
- lung disorders
- damage to children’s brain development
- Quit tobacco and e-cigarettes now far a healthier life!