Vaping, or the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), is increasing among youngsters. Many people believe that using e-cigarettes is better than smoking real cigarettes, but health experts warn there are dangers associated with vaping.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that e-cigarette usage among middle and high school students has tripled from 2013 to 2014.
The results of the 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey showed that the use of at least one e-cigarette in the past 30 days among high school goers increased from 4.5 percent to 13.4 percent from 2013 to 2014.
Tom Frieden, director of CDC, warns that nicotine is dangerous for youngsters at any age. E-cigarettes that contain nicotine should not be taken as a "safer" alternative to regular cigarettes.
While smoking normal cigarettes produces smoke, using e-cigarettes produces vapor. The smoke from cigarettes is known to have several carcinogens. In the same way, experts believe that the vapor from e-cigarettes also contains cancer-causing chemicals.
Researchers from the Portland State University learned that vapor produced by e-cigarettes has high levels of formaldehyde, which is also present in industrial disinfectants. Formaldehyde can also be found in plywood, glue and several other household products.
When an e-cigarette is used at high voltage, it produces high levels of formaldehyde, which is harmful to humans because it increases the risk of cancer.
A prior report also highlighted that the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has been experiencing a higher number of emergency calls to its poison control centers due to poisoning from e-cigarettes as well as the e-liquids used in e-cigarettes. The department said e-cigarette-related emergency calls increased from just 19 in 2012 to 243 in 2014.
E-cigarettes may be free from tobacco, but it is not free from nicotine. Experts suggest that using e-cigarettes may get people addicted to them or may lead them to smoking regular cigarettes.
"The 2012 Surgeon General's Report found that about 90 percent of all smokers first tried cigarettes as teens; and that about three of every four teen smokers continue into adulthood," stated the CDC.
Studies are already underway to understand the ill effects of e-cigarettes. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved e-cigarettes as a mode to quit smoking. E-cigarettes remain one of the least regulated alternatives to tobacco in the U.S.
Photo: Lauri Rantala | Flickr
