Is Vaping Harmful? What's Known and What Isn't

Electronic cigarettes are marketed as a "safer" alternative to traditional cigarettes. In this article we look at what the scientific literature says about the effects of e-cigarettes on the body.

How Does an E-Cigarette Work?

E-cigarettes work through a process called vaping, heating a liquid (e-liquid or vape juice) to produce not a vapor but actually an aerosol made up of tiny particles. The user inhales this aerosol into their lungs. The vast majority of these e-liquids contain nicotine, the same addictive chemical found in traditional cigarettes.

Do E-Cigarettes Really Contain Fewer Chemicals?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists 93 harmful or potentially harmful chemicals in traditional cigarettes, while the National Cancer Institute states that cigarettes contain more than 7,000 chemicals. Because e-cigarettes contain fewer chemicals, the industry presents them as a healthier alternative. However, the FDA doesn't currently require safety testing for all substances in e-cigarettes, which makes it hard to know exactly what chemicals a given e-cigarette contains.

Known Health Risks

The main health risks associated with e-cigarette use include:

• People who use only e-cigarettes have been found to have about a 30 percent higher risk of developing lung disease compared to non-users
• A chemical called diacetyl, found in some flavorings, has been linked to a serious lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans, also known as "popcorn lung"
• Nicotine can harm brain development in young people, damaging the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood and impulse control
• Acute nicotine exposure can be toxic, children and adults have been poisoned by swallowing, inhaling or absorbing vape liquid through the skin
• E-cigarette use during pregnancy has been associated with low birth weight and preterm birth

Does Vaping Help People Quit Smoking?

E-cigarettes have been studied as a potential smoking cessation tool since they arrived in the U.S. in 2007. But on one point, health researchers who study vaping agree, vape devices haven't been proven to help adult smokers quit smoking. There is also evidence that vaping among teens increases the risk they will later switch to traditional cigarettes.

Long-Term Effects Are Still Being Studied

The long-term health risks of e-cigarettes aren't fully known yet, because these products are relatively new and not enough time has passed for long-term studies. Scientists note that e-cigarette use may pose risks in terms of cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and that the aerosol from e-cigarettes can affect not just the user but people around them as well.

Conclusion

Even though e-cigarettes contain fewer chemicals than traditional cigarettes, that doesn't make them harmless. Nicotine addiction, known lung risks, and long-term effects that still aren't fully understood make it hard to consider e-cigarettes a "safe" alternative. For people who want to quit smoking, the most reliable path is not switching to e-cigarettes, but turning to evidence-based cessation methods and professional support when needed.