How dangerous are e-cigarettes?
Steam instead of smoke – that sounds good at first. But researchers from the UK warn of the long-term effects of e-cigarettes. Yet they have yet to be explored. We know that so far.
Contents
- What are the long-term effects of e-cigarettes?
- What substances do e-cigarettes contain, and how do they affect the body?
- Can you die from e-cigarettes?
- What Are the Symptoms of E-Cigarette-Related Cases of Disease in the US?
- Which ingredients in e-cigarettes are said to cause diseases?
- Why can’t you say for sure which substance is responsible for e-cigarette-related illnesses in the USA?
- Are e-cigarettes also a danger in Germany?
- Are e-cigarettes still better than real cigarettes?
What are the long-term effects of e-cigarettes?
There are few studies on the health effects of e-cigarettes. Initial studies indicate effects on the cardiovascular system. Cell culture, animal, and human studies also suggest that e-cigarettes increase the risk of respiratory disease and impair lung function. Above all, however, there still needs to be studied over more extended periods to make clear statements about the harmfulness of e-cigarettes.
Strictly speaking, only one long-term study has examined the consequences of e-cigarette consumption in humans. Researchers at the University of California surveyed 32,000 American adults about their smoking behaviour over a period of three years. In addition, the subjects were asked to provide information about their health – specifically whether they had been diagnosed by a doctor with respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive bronchitis (COB). (The latter is colloquially known as a smoker’s cough and is a common consequence of years of tobacco smoking. The alveoli and cilia in the lungs are irreversibly damaged. The mucus formed in the lungs must be coughed up.)
So, everyone can have an opinion. In the end, however, facts decide. We provide you with scientific classification, explanations and facts on current debates.
The result of the study: Users of e-cigarettes have a 30 per cent higher risk of suffering from these respiratory diseases than non-smokers. However: Tobacco smoking is even more harmful to our lungs, even with a 160 per cent increased risk. The study also points out that different ingredients in e-cigarettes and tobacco ingredients lead to increased risks because the health consequences increased in subjects who smoked both simultaneously.
“However, this study is also only of very limited significance,” says an epidemiologist. The observation period of three years is far too short for chronic respiratory diseases. In addition, e-cigarette users, in particular, are often former tobacco smokers. “There are many indications that the respiratory diseases that users of e-cigarettes report in the study could simply be a consequence of tobacco smoking,”. In principle, the risk of respiratory diseases from e-cigarettes is therefore estimated by this study to be too high rather than too low.
What substances do e-cigarettes contain, and how do they affect the body?
Electronic cigarettes heat a liquid containing nicotine, the so-called liquid, and vaporize it. You inhale the vapour that is produced. This is referred to as “vaping”.
Unlike cigarettes, e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco, which releases harmful substances when burned. But: The vapour from an e-cigarette also contains toxins.
The e-cigarette liquid consists of small molecules: propylene glycol, glycerin, nicotine and various flavourings. When the user inhales the vapour, these substances penetrate the lungs. How many harmful substances the smoke contains depends, among other things, on the liquid and vaporizer.
The aromas are harmless as food. However, it is still unclear how they affect our lungs. This is currently still being researched.
Propylene glycol and glycerin could interact with the thin layer of fluid that lines our lungs – disrupting gas exchange in the organ. Some researchers assume so. This has yet to be proven.
Propylene Glycol can be irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. When the substance is heated, formaldehyde is produced, which the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies as carcinogenic to humans.
Nicotine is also discussed as potentially carcinogenic, but this has not been proven beyond doubt. Nicotine is not on the WHO list – but it is addictive since nicotine is a neurotoxin. It can prove deadly in high doses.
In 2018, a study also found traces of metals in the vapour from e-cigarettes from various manufacturers, sometimes in concentrations that are harmful to health. The scientists suspected that these were detachments from the heating coil.
What effect the heavy metals have in this dose is unclear.
Generally speaking, to accurately assess the toxicity of vaping, several factors must be taken into account: the device’s performance, the nicotine concentration, the total amount of e-liquid filled per day, and the flavours.
For example, vaping at high wattage and a large amount of heavily flavoured e-liquid daily can harm the lungs. In contrast, it might be safer to vape fewer e-liquids at low and medium wattages.
Previously unexplored: long-term effects of e-cigarettes
There are still few studies on the harmful effects of e-cigarettes. Cell culture and animal and human studies suggest various adverse biological effects on airway mucosa and lung gas exchange. A current review provides a summary of the results.
Results on the long-term effects of e-cigarettes, as they are known for tobacco smoking, are not yet available. Initial studies indicate effects on the cardiovascular system. For a well-founded assessment, however, long-term observation is necessary. Do not forget to check Tito Vape Wholesale.
According to an EU directive, the following ingredients are permitted: glycerin, propylene glycol, water, nicotine and various flavours.
Can you die from e-cigarettes?
In the United States, there has recently been an accumulation of illnesses and deaths that appear to be related to e-cigarettes. This involves smoking flavoured liquids containing THC or nicotine, the so-called liquids.
An authority of the US Department of Health, the Centers for Disease, Control and Prevention (CDC), reports 2051 lung diseases and 39 deaths (as of November 5th, 2019). The cases appear to be related to e-cigarette use.
All those affected stated that they used e-cigarettes regularly. The substance that could be responsible is vitamin E acetate – a substance that is not usually used in commercial liquids for e-cigarettes.
In response to the cases of illness, the US state of Michigan has banned the sale of flavoured liquids as a precautionary measure. The CDC advises consumers in the US to refrain from using e-cigarettes until the cause of the disease has been elucidated.
What Are the Symptoms of E-Cigarette-Related Cases of Disease in the US?
In a September 2019 study, researchers analyzed the symptoms of 59 patients hospitalized in two US states. All those affected had previously consumed e-cigarettes, including illegal liquids containing THC.
The patients had to vomit, complained of stomach pains, had a fever and had problems with breathing. Closer examinations showed that the lung tissue was inflamed. This can lead to less oxygen getting into the blood and the organs being undersupplied. There have also been deaths from lung failure.
Which ingredients in e-cigarettes are suspected?
It has not yet been clarified whether a single substance or a combination of essences was responsible for the illnesses and deaths in the USA.
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services CDC, there is direct evidence that oil derived from vitamin E has caused lung disease in e-cigarette users. The chemical was detected in 29 sick patients whose lung fluid was examined.
Vitamin E acetate is approved for use in a wide range of foods, supplements and cosmetic products such as skin creams – it is harmless when taken as a vitamin supplement or applied to the skin. However, if inhaled, it could impair lung function.
The CDC said, however, that final investigations would have to be made before vitamin E oil could be confirmed as the definitive cause of lung diseases. It is still possible that more than one substance has triggered the disorders. Please visit Crystal 600 Bulk.
Under suspicion: THC-containing liquids
Liquids containing THC are illegal and, therefore, not subject to any quality control. To make more profit, they are often stretched. For example, vitamin E acetate is a substance found in 29 patients in the USA (as of November 11th, 2019).
Of the 2,051 lung patients reported to the CDC, 867 were interviewed: 86 per cent of them said they had vaped e-liquids containing THC – many bought these e-liquids on the black market or on the street. According to the Association for e-cigarette trade, the substance should not be present in legal e-liquids.
Vitamin E Acetate is a very viscous oil that is colourless and tasteless, producing a nice, thick smoke when vaporized. It is also much cheaper than cannabis oil. Various laboratory analyses have shown that some illicit cannabis e-liquids comprise up to 88 per cent vitamin E acetate.
Another group of substances that has been detected in illegal THC liquids are pesticides.
In a study commissioned by the American television station “NBC News”, liquids containing THC from 14 manufacturers were examined for pesticide residues. Four of them were legal products, and ten were from the black market.
While the legal, registered products were pesticide-free, residues of at least one pesticide were detected in all black-market liquids.
Many pesticides harm the animal organism after direct exposure. However, breath tests are not carried out as standard in approval procedures.
In addition, pesticides’ toxic effects are not tested on humans but on rats, fish and other animals. In many cases, it is currently not possible to say whether pesticides would cause lung damage in humans after heating and inhaling them.
Synthetic cannabinoids could also play a role in the diseases. This synthetic designer drug mimics the effects of natural THC and cannabidiol and is much cheaper to produce.
The substances have already been detected in liquids. The synthetic imitations are diverse and sometimes appear much stronger than the natural original. This can lead to kidney or heart damage, for example. However, there are not enough studies to make a statement about the effects of vaporized cannabinoids on human health.
Flavourings
Mango, vanilla, and bratwurst – liquids are available in many different flavours. In addition to THC-containing and mostly illegal beverages, various flavours are also suspected of containing toxic substances. Although these flavourings are often approved for consumption, their effect on the lungs has hardly been investigated. We are offering Tito Bulk Buy in a reasonable price.
Some flavours appear to be more toxic than others. However, the investigations are mainly based on in vitro tests on cell cultures. Whether the concentration of flavourings in the liquids is sufficient to cause lung damage under natural conditions has yet to be clarified.
Why can’t you say for sure which substance is responsible for e-cigarette-related illnesses in the UK?
There are various reasons for this. For one thing, e-cigarettes have been on the market for a while. Therefore, there are no significant long-term studies on the effects of e-cigarettes or their ingredients.
In addition, many of the substances used in the liquids have only been tested for their compatibility with consumption. But what happens when you inhale these substances is hardly known. Everything we eat goes through the stomach and liver – the body’s natural defences that neutralize many harmful substances. But the lungs lack this cleaning capacity.
What also searches for causes more challenging: Many different devices and vaporizable liquids are circulating on the official UK market and the black market. After all, vitamin E oil was detected comparatively frequently, with a patient number of 29.
In addition, smoking tobacco or marijuana complicates the identification of vaping-specific findings since it can also trigger the symptoms mentioned above.
Are similar cases of illness known for e-cigarettes?
In Germany, patients have also been hospitalized after using e-cigarettes and e-shishas.
However, the symptoms of the affected adolescents in the UK differed from those of the patients in the USA. Authorities suspect that the vaped liquids were blended with synthetic cannabinoids.
Fortunately, there have not yet been any deaths in the UK like in the USA, although the devices used are the same everywhere: Devices, coils, metals, propylene glycol, glycerine, nicotine or aroma are the main components of e-cigarettes here and there. Therefore, these components and ingredients are unlikely to be involved in the current US vaping epidemic.
But: Other liquids are circulating in the UK – some with a higher nicotine content, some with a more potent synthetic cannabinoid content – which are said to come from the black market. Although there is little data on this, experts suspect this is a possible cause of e-cigarette-related illnesses in the UK.
In addition, the approval process for e-cigarettes and liquids in the UK and the EU is stricter. The products that we have on the market are therefore more strictly controlled.
Nevertheless, it cannot be ruled out that liquids will also be sold on the black market in the UK as in the USA – with possibly similar health consequences. The local doctors are therefore encouraged to pay more attention to any symptoms. Simbavapes is selling Crystal 4000 Puffs Wholesale in the UK.
Are e-cigarettes still better than real cigarettes?
Reaching for the e-cigarette is attractive for many smokers because they believe the vaporization process avoids cancer risks from traditional smoking. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), users rose from seven million in 2011 to 41 million in 2018.
The vapour from e-cigarettes does contain harmful substances, but by no means as many as a cigarette. Staying in the US, 1000 people die daily from smoking regular cigarettes. In the UK in 2013, there were a little more than 300 people – per day. Just under 40 people have died from the effects of e-cigarettes in the United States.
Despite the existing risks, e-cigarettes are still considered the healthier and safer alternative to cigarettes. However, its usefulness for people trying to quit smoking is controversial. Nevertheless, the liquids from e-cigarettes contain many substances whose effect on the human body when inhaled is relatively unexplored. In particular, the long-term effects of e-cigarettes are still unclear.
If you don’t smoke regularly, you should think twice before using an e-cigarette. And: Steer clear of all liquids traded underhand or on the street. Those who consume such products are playing Russian roulette with their health.