According to reports, there are fewer people smoking now or beginning to smoke than ever before. While this is a heartening trend, it is also apparent that the popularity of e-cigarettes has skyrocketed. E-cigarettes are battery operated devices such as vape mods and vape pens. They consist of a liquid cartridge that is heated to produce a vapour that is then inhaled. But are e-cigarettes safer than regular cigarettes? Gumtree delves into the facts:
- The primary difference between e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes is that the former does not contain tobacco.
- According to scientists, there is not enough evidence on the long-term effects of e- cigarettes. However, one thing is for sure: it cannot be considered a safer alternative to regular cigarette smoking.
- Research conducted by John Hopkins Medicine suggests that while regular smoking includes inhaling around 7000 chemicals, vaping or using an e-cigarette may involve slightly less.
- E-cigarettes are high in nicotine, which can adversely affect brain development in children and teens.
- Regular cigarette smoking can cause lung cancer, heart disease and other serious conditions after decades of use. However, according to reports, inhaling an e-cigarette or vaping can cause lung damage or seizures in as less than a year.
- Apart from nicotine, e-cigarettes contain several harmful substances such as diacetyl, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and heavy metals. This causes harm to those smoking and those around through second hand smoke.
- The liquid that creates the vapour in an e-cigarette is considered highly dangerous as breathing it in, swallowing or absorption by the skin has caused dangerous accidents.
