What Is Vaping?
Vaping and smoking both work by heating up substances that users inhale.
Most e-cigarettes work by using a battery to heat up coils.
Mauro Grigollo / Getty Images
Smoking relies on flame to burn tobacco and produce smoke.
The lack of combustion for e-cigs means fewer harsh chemicals are formed.
The ones left, however, arent exactly safe.
A CDC study estimates that 99% of e-cigs sold in the U.S. contain nicotine.
Some vaping products marketed as containing no nicotine were even found to contain it in tested samples.
Concentrations of other metals in the aerosol, like nickel and manganese, also often exceeded safety standards.
Like with nicotine, concentrations can vary by puff, gear, and manufacturer.
Different vape pens can have different tweaks that affect the temperature of the coils.
Flavorants
Flavoring chemicals used to be a big part of e-cigarettes.
There were many flavored cartridges, including sweet flavors that appealed to teens.
What Does Vaping Do to Your Lungs?
Burning tobacco creates more debris, but e-cigs have it, too.
The deeper you inhale, the more damage these tiny particles can do.
EVALI has led to more than 2,800 hospitalizations and at least 68 deaths since it was identified in 2019.
It’s not well understood since it’s so new, and the CDC continues to investigate it.
The CDC recommends:
Does Vaping Cause Cancer?
An estimated 41,000 people die every year in the United States due to secondhand smoke.
The devices can feel somewhat similar to cigarettes and contain the addictive nicotine without as many toxic chemicals.
It can make the transition away from smoking a little smoother and offers a potential benefit.
An added danger of vaping is that it may lead to smoking, especially among young people.
A Word From Verywell
A lot more research on vaping is needed.
Picking up vaping could be extremely damaging to your health, especially if youre under the age of 25.
American Cancer Society.Harmful chemicals in tobacco products.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About e-cigarettes (vapes).
Schroeder MJ, Hoffman AC.Electronic cigarettes and nicotine clinical pharmacology.Tob Control.
2014;23(suppl 2):ii30-ii35.
doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2013-051469
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.E-cigarette use among youth.
American Lung Association.E-cigarettes & vaping: what parents should know.
Rao P, Liu J, Springer ML.JUUL and combusted cigarettes comparably impair endothelial function.Tob Regul Sci.
2020;12(8):e9618.
American College of Cardiology.E-cigarettes linked to heart attacks, coronary artery disease, and depression.
Farsalinos K, Voudris V, Poulas K.Are metals emitted from electronic cigarettes a reason for health concern?
A risk-assessment analysis of currently available literature.Int J Environ Res Public Health.
2015;12(5):5215-5232. doi:10.3390/ijerph120505215
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.STATE system e-cigarette fact sheet.
Association of California School Administrators.Addressing vaping in schools.
American Lung Association.Health effects of secondhand smoke.
Barrington-Trimis JL, Urman R, Berhane K, et al.E-cigarettes and future cigarette use.Pediatrics.
2016;138(1):e20160379.
Mishra A, Chaturvedi P, Datta S, et al.Harmful effects of nicotine.Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol.
2015;36(1):2431. doi:10.4103/0971-5851.151771
