If you’re thinking of kicking your smoking habit, you might want to think twice about using e-cigarettes to quit smoking.
A recent study from France’s National Consumer Institute claims that e-cigarettes may contain carcinogens similar to the ones found in regular cigarettes. E-cigarettes have become a popular alternative for smokers, especially for those trying to quit, since they vaporize nicotine, the ingredient that causes the craving, while filtering out tobacco and other harmful chemicals, making it easier for people quitting smoking to kick the habit.
The report also criticized certain models of e-cigarettes for not having child-proof safety caps. The level of nicotine found in liquid form in e-cigarettes is potentially fatal to children.
The study found that three out of 10 e-cigarettes currently on the market contained levels of acrolein and formaldehyde that were comparable to those found in traditional cigarettes. Since e-cigarettes do not emit tobacco, users have largely been exempt from restrictions that apply to cigarette smokers.
However, this appears to be changing with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considering placing regulations on the sale of e-cigarettes, including a ban on selling e-cigarettes online. The city council in Seal Beach, California is taking this one step further with a 45-day ban on the sale of e-cigarettes so they can examine the risks associated with the devices.
Despite this, the e-cigarette industry is expected to grow to $1.70 billion by the end of 2013 and $10.0 billion over the next decade with sales of the devices predicted to surpass traditional cigarettes.
Whether or not e-cigarettes are dangerous may be up for debate but it is ultimately up to the individual to decide if this is the right substitute for cigarettes or an effective aid to help you quit smoking. Even though e-cigarettes are meant to be temporary for people quitting smoking, they should still take the potential health risks that the study has brought to light into account when considering e-cigarettes to quit smoking.
Source(s) for Today’s Article:
Pfeiffer, E., “Study say e-cigarettes may contain carcinogens similar to regular cigarettes,” Yahoo! News web site, August 27, 2013; http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/-study-says-e-cigarettes-contain-carcinogens-similar-to-regular-cigarettes–205045093.html, last accessed August 29, 2013.
Arciero, R., “E-cigarettes health: Carcinogens found in e-cigarettes a danger, study finds,” Examiner web site, August 27, 2013; http://www.examiner.com/article/e-cigarettes-health-carcinogens-found-e-cigarettes-a-danger-study-finds, last accessed August 29, 2013.
Drill, S., “FDA Discusses Banning Online Sales of E-Cigarettes,” The Wall Street Journal web site, August 23, 2013; http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323980604579028872575240180.html, last accessed August 29, 2013.
Moreno, J., “Seal Beach Approves Moratorium on E-Cigarette Vendors,” KTLA web site, August 26, 2013; http://ktla.com/2013/08/27/seal-beach-approves-moratorium-on-e-cigarette-vendors/#axzz2dCimOZmP, last accessed August 29, 2013.