Back in 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were concerned about the rise of e-cigarette use among teens. The term “vaping” was well-known in high schools, but was still being introduced to most adults.
Fast forward to now and vaping is a public health crisis. Thousands of lung injuries and dozens of deaths have been linked to vaping, leading a number of states to enact restrictions on e-cigarette sales.
What was once considered a safe “alternative” to smoking tobacco cigarettes is proving to be anything but.
Vaping causes dangerous health effects.
Electronic cigarettes have long been considered unsafe for children and adolescents. Increasing evidence now shows that they pose significant health risks for people of all ages.
Many people still believe e-cigarettes are safe, but research continues to show that vaping products can contain harmful substances, encourage unhealthy behaviors, and lead to nicotine addiction.
In many cases, public health officials are learning about the toxins present in vaping products only after lung injuries occur. A large number of patients affected by vaping-related lung illness have reported using products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). However, even nicotine-based e-cigarettes carry substantial risks.
1. High Levels of Dangerous Toxins
Formaldehyde is one of the known chemicals in traditional cigarettes. It’s a toxic chemical used in the manufacture of building products, or as it’s more commonly known, a key component of embalming fluid.
An analysis published in The New England Journal of Medicine, estimated that exposure to formaldehyde is worse in electronic cigarettes. It could be as much as 15 times higher! This means that e-cigarettes are greatly increasing your risk of respiratory illness and cancer, as formaldehyde is linked to both.
Formaldehyde is just one of many toxins found in vaping products. Other harmful substances include acrolein, a chemical herbicide linked to cancer, as well as acetaldehyde and diacetyl, which are associated with lung disease. Some vaping liquids have also been found to contain heavy metals such as lead, nickel, and tin, along with arsenic and propylene glycol — a chemical commonly found in antifreeze. The more substances inhaled, the greater the potential toxicity.
2. Accidental Poisoning
One major concern in the vaping crisis is the widespread availability of flavored e-liquids. These flavors often mimic candy or fruit, making them especially appealing to teens.
Unfortunately, these products can also attract younger children, who may mistake them for candy and ingest the liquid. E-liquids contain highly concentrated nicotine and other toxic chemicals, which can be extremely dangerous if swallowed. Parents who use vaping products should store them securely and out of reach of children.
3. Nicotine Addiction
Regardless of how it is delivered, nicotine is addictive and harmful. While some vaping products contain lower nicotine levels than traditional cigarettes, others contain significantly more. In many cases, it is difficult to determine how much nicotine is being consumed.
Nicotine raises blood pressure and heart rate and can negatively affect brain development. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable, as their brains are still developing. Nicotine also contributes to the hardening of the arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack.
According to the CDC, vaping doubles the likelihood that a person will eventually transition to traditional cigarette smoking — a habit that kills half of long-term users.
E-Cigarettes are still legal for adults in Iowa - for now.
E-cigarette sales to minors have been illegal in Iowa since June 2014. Adults can still legally purchase and consume vaping products. Elsewhere in the country, that is changing.
Laws were quickly established when electronic cigarettes were introduced, but they were not even regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) until 2016. As the recent outbreak of lung injuries shows, there is still much more to learn about the safety and health effects of vaping. Many states and cities have moved to ban all e-cigarettes until more is known. Others are banning flavored vaping products to help prevent usage among teens.
In September 2019, the FDA announced a move to finalize a policy that bans the sale of flavored e-cigarettes. They’re also working with the CDC and state health departments to further “investigate the distressing incidents of severe respiratory disease associated with use of e-cigarette products.”
Vaping is still a dangerous trend among teens.
Vaping among teens continues to rise. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 25 percent of high school students reported using e-cigarettes in 2019.
E-cigarettes are now the most commonly used tobacco product among youth. Emerging research shows that young people face increased risks from vaping, including irreversible lung damage and chronic lung disease.
Educating children and teens about the dangers of vaping is critical. Open conversations about the health risks associated with nicotine and other chemicals can help reduce use. For additional support, healthcare providers can play an important role in helping teens understand the long-term consequences of vaping.