You know how, in some cases, the dangers of a particular product, substance or habit do not become well-known until long after it gains popularity? Many safety advocates believe that the same will hold true when it comes to e-cigarettes, suspecting that these increasingly popular vaping products may not, in fact, be as safe as the manufacturers might want you to believe.
While it is true that there is still much for the public to learn about the safety of e-cigarettes and related vaping products, there is a general scholarly consensus that these products are, in fact, harmful.
Safety concerns surrounding vape products
According to the American Lung Association, inhaling the two main ingredients in vape pens and similar products, which are propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, exposes you to high levels of dangerous toxins, potentially leading to irreversible lung damage and disease. While it is not yet clear just how much of a link exists between vaping and developing lung cancer, specifically, it is clear that vaping can lead to health issues. Furthermore, evidence suggests that youths who use e-cigarettes and similar vape products face a higher risk of coughing, wheezing and experiencing asthma-related side effects.
Misleading marketing
Often, the industry’s leading vape-product manufacturers market their products by presenting them as safer alternatives to smoking regular cigarettes, but, this, too, is up for debate. The U.S. Food and Drug Association has yet to find any vape product proven safe and effective at helping smokers of regular cigarettes kick the habit.
Instead, some believe that cigarette smokers who convert to e-cigarette smokers are simply trading one dangerous habit for another. It may, too, be easier for young people to smoke vape pens and similar products than regular cigarettes because they are easier to conceal because the smell dissipates quickly after use.
If you are a cigarette smoker considering switching over to e-cigarettes, please consider other, safer methods of quitting the cigarette habit before doing so.