No matter where you are if you take a minute to look around, it is clear that vaping has become a fairly easy trend to spot. But, what is vaping?
E-cigarettes are battery-powered smoking devices. They have cartridges filled with a liquid that usually contains nicotine, flavorings, and chemicals. The liquid is heated into a vapor, which the person inhales. That’s why using e-cigarettes is called “vaping.” – Kids Health
The vapor, or aerosol, produced in these electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) consists of many fine particles that contain various amounts of toxic chemicals that have been linked to respiratory issues and heart disease. This new trend is a cause for concern as tobacco is still the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S.
- Ultrafine particles that can damage the lungs
- Flavorings containing diacetyl, a chemical linked to lung disease
- Volatile organic compounds
- Cancer-causing chemicals
- Heavy metals like nickel, tin and lead
middle and high school students used some type of tobacco product in 2018, a huge rise from the reported 3.6 in 2017 – CDCtwelfth grade students reported past year vaping – NIDA, Monitoring the Future 2018 Survey
Risks
- Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development
- Young people who use e-cigarettes more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future
- Defective e-cigarette devices have caused unintended injuries from fires and explosions due to battery malfunctions
- People have been poisoned by swallowing, breathing, or absorbing e-cigarette liquid through their skin or eyes
While research has not yet determined the long-term effects of vaping, e-cigarettes and JUULS, it is important to be educated about the risk factors and trends of these devices.
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