There's no doubt about it: cigarettes are harmful to your health. E-cigarettes, better known as vaporizers, were designed to be a reduced-harm alternative to smoking cigarettes. But can these devices really provide a better alternative to cigarette smoking?
Vaping vs. Smoking: Which One is Safer?
When discussing vaping, much of the focus has been on the safety of the device itself and its e-liquid. But vaporizers were designed to be a reduced-harm alternative to cigarettes, not to make the act of smoking completely safe and risk-free.
They are meant to be a safer alternative to combustible cigarettes.
Unfortunately, there are only a few studies that employ a direct comparison of smoking and vaping. However, the research that we do have largely shows that, by comparison, vaping is largely safer than smoking.
In fact, Public Health England has stated that vaping is 95% safer than smoking.
And many of the new vaporizers you find on Vapeactive, Smokefree review site and other online vape shops are built with advanced technologies designed to deliver cleaner vapor.
Vaping Effects on the Lungs and Oral Health
It's well-known that smoking cigarettes is harmful to the lungs. Over the long-term, smoking can lead to emphysema, esophageal cancer, chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals, many of which are known carcinogens. The smoke also contains particulate matter, like bits of paper and burned tobacco, that become lodged deep into the lungs.
Vaporizers, on the other hand, are not known to produce carcinogens in quantities large enough to be considered a substantial risk. Also, vapor does not contain any solid particles.
Vaping eliminates many of the dangers associated with burning tobacco. Because there is no combustion involved, there's no need to worry about carbon monoxide or tar.
That's not to say that vaping is risk-free. There are some concerns about propylene glycol, the main ingredient in e-liquids, as well as flavorings and vegetable glycerin. Flavorings are a mixture of chemical compounds, some of which may be worse for lung health than others.
Some e-liquids also contain diketones, like diacetyl, which is a group of chemicals believed to be responsible for popcorn lung disease (the nickname for bronchiolitis obliterans). Diketones are also found in cigarettes - at levels 100-750 times those found in e-liquids.
Cigarette smoking contributes to a variety of mouth, throat and esophageal cancers as well as dental and periodontal disease. Little is known about the effects of vaping on oral health.
There have been documented cases of vaporizers exploding in the user's mouth and causing damage. However, new technologies and new vaporizer models have reduced the risk of an atomizer launching into the user's teeth. Battery explosions are still possible, although the risk is lower thanks to design changes.
There is no question that smoking cigarettes is harmful to your health. The adverse effects of smoking are well-studied and well-documented. Thus far, there has been little evidence that vaping has the same health effects as cigarettes. While not entirely safe, e-cigarettes are largely considered a safer alternative to cigarettes for adults.
