How do electronic cigarettes affect our health?

Photo: Unsplash

E-cigarettes are becoming increasingly popular and are increasingly being touted as a way to quit smoking. According to the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HCPI), how exactly are they different from ordinary ones and how dangerous are they?

Although electronic cigarettes are mentioned on social networks and the public in the context of a "healthy" variant of cigarettes, HZJZ points out that this does not exist.

How do electronic cigarettes work?

"Typical use of an electronic cigarette creates an aerosol that, along with nicotine, commonly includes: glycols, aldehydes, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), glyoxal, methylglyoxal, diacetyl, acetol, metals, silicate particles and other elements", according to HZJZ.

They add that the levels and number of known toxic substances and compounds in the aerosol of electronic cigarettes are lower than in the tobacco smoke of conventional cigarettes. However, there is a danger from some other substances.

"However, the levels of some toxic substances in the aerosol, such as: lead, chromium, nickel and formaldehyde, in different products can vary greatly, and even reach higher levels than those in tobacco smoke," explained HZJZ .

They emphasize that electronic cigarettes are especially attractive to young people, so there is an additional danger in this. Also, these cigarettes are easily available.

Do electronic cigarettes help you quit smoking?

There is some research indicating that some e-cigarette users have stopped smoking, but such evidence is still limited and insufficient to draw any conclusions.

"The use of electronic cigarettes will probably help some smokers to stop smoking cigarettes altogether, but a significant number of them will start dual use, ie. they will continue to smoke cigarettes and use electronic cigarettes. It will be used to reduce the use of cigarettes, but not to stop them," emphasizes HZJZ.

They add that smokers should first be encouraged to quit smoking and reduce their dependence on smoking and nicotine using a combination of already approved treatments rather than using e-cigarettes.

The danger of electronic cigarettes

It will take years to gather detailed data on the dangers and harms of electronic cigarettes and how they affect the development of many diseases, especially malignant ones.

"However, evidence based on the assessment of chemical compounds in solutions and aerosols from e-cigarettes indicates the potential cytotoxicity of some solutions (concentration and number of different flavors in the solution), which should cause concern and caution for the use of e-cigarettes in pregnant women. ", emphasizes HZJZ.

EVALI (e-cigarette and vaping-related lung injury) is an inflammatory response of the respiratory system caused by heating and aerosolization of oil deposited in the alveolar space. It is mentioned for the first time in 2019. More than 2.800 cases have been reported, including 68 deaths.

"EVALI includes conditions such as lipoid pneumonia, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, acute eosinophilic pneumonia," states HZJZ.

Common symptoms of lipoid pneumonia include shortness of breath, chest pain, chronic cough, expectoration, fever, and weight loss.

Who should be especially careful?

Nicotine is known to be addictive, so HZJZ warns that "the use of electronic cigarettes can have harmful effects during pregnancy and contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases."

"Although nicotine itself is not carcinogenic, it appears to be involved in fundamental aspects of the biology of malignancies as well as neurodegeneration. Nicotine delivery options are extensive; from very small, to amounts similar to those of conventional cigarettes, which depends on the characteristics of the product itself, as well as on the method of use and the concentration of nicotine in the solution, therefore there is also a risk of nicotine overdose by swallowing or dermal contact", he points out ХЗЖЗ.

The HZJZ adds that there is enough evidence to warn adolescents, pregnant women and women of childbearing age to be careful when using it because nicotine can affect fetal brain development and adolescent brain development.

"Although there is no exact data on how much the use of nicotine delivery e-cigarettes (and nicotine-free cigarettes) is 'safer' compared to smoking conventional cigarettes, existing research models suggest that it should be at least 3 times, in order for these cigarettes to to be considered a potential benefit for public health", concludes HZJZ.

Dear reader,

Our access to web content is free, because we believe in equality in information, regardless of whether someone can pay or not. Therefore, in order to continue our work, we ask for the support of our community of readers by financially supporting the Free Press. Become a member of Sloboden Pechat to help the facilities that will enable us to deliver long-term and quality information and TOGETHER let's ensure a free and independent voice that will ALWAYS BE ON THE PEOPLE'S SIDE.

SUPPORT A FREE PRESS.
WITH AN INITIAL AMOUNT OF 60 DENARS

Video of the day