The Dangers of E-Cigarettes
Many young smokers have switched from
traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes largely because they are believed to be
a healthier alternative to smoking. However, an October study published in the
journal Oncotarget
showed how the
vapors from e-cigarettes are damaging. The vapors and flavoring that are
present in e-cigarettes could damage cells in the gums and around the mouth.
Electronic cigarettes have become very
popular over the years, having been marketed as an alternative to traditional
cigarettes and smoking. However, new data regarding e-cigarettes and oral
health prove otherwise. Recent analysis of the chemicals found in e-cigarettes
and the vapors are alarming. Each cigarette is loaded with a vaporizable
liquid, which is made up of several chemicals, including glycol, glycerol,
nicotine, and a variety of flavors. The chemicals are concerning and even more
so when they are heated.
To use an e-cigarette, users load the
liquid and heat it until it vaporizes. While heated, the chemicals inside the
fluid break down and convert into other chemicals. To examine the new
chemicals, CDC scientists, in a separate study, used nuclear magnetic resonance
spectroscopy and found a concerning result. When the liquid broke down, it made
formaldehyde and similar agents. Formaldehyde is a carcinogen that is
colorless, flammable, and associated with most household products. The presence
of carcinogens increases the risk of developing cancer. When compared to
traditional smoking, the cancer risk is the same and possibly higher for
electronic cigarettes.
Leading the recent study was Irfan
Rahman, Ph.D., a professor of environmental medicine at the University of
Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Rahman tested the effects of e-cigarettes
by exposing a 3D model of a human to different flavors available to smokers.
The researchers used a BLU rechargeable e-cigarette and two flavors—classic
tobacco and magnificent menthol. The study showed that e-cigarettes inflamed
gum cells and produced a negative effect on cell regeneration. The menthol
flavor was shown to do more damage than the tobacco flavor.
A lab team at the Veterans Affairs San
Diego Healthcare System performed similar research and found the same result.
The two products that were tested damaged cells in a way that could lead to
cancer. Researchers also noticed damaging effects even with the nicotine free
versions of the product. "Our study strongly suggests that electronic
cigarettes are not as safe as their marketing makes them appear to the
public," wrote the researchers, who published their findings in the
journal Oral Oncology
.
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