E-cigarettes versus Tobacco Cigarettes

Second- hand smokers are not exonerated from contacting same diseases. There have been reported cases of consumers’ hospitalization linked to E-cigarettes and its adverse effects on the people. To safeguard public health, there is need for urgent attention from FDA to stipulate rules and regulations for the sale and use of e-cigarettes. This will also include creating public awareness and education about the products, and other nicotine replacement therapies. The people need to know the benefits and adverse effects of electronic cigarettes if any, to be able to make informed decisions about their health

Originally manufactured in China in 2003, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) were manufactured as a better way of inhaling nicotine without the health effects of smoking tobacco. They were developed to provide the tobacco user with a device that would heat up liquid nicotine and other chemicals including carcinogens that once heated would create a vapor in which the user would inhale. Unlike cigarettes, nothing is burned, and there is no smoke released from the device. E-cigarettes are marketed to the consumer as a better way of quitting smoking or just sustaining the craving of tobacco by allowing the smoker the pleasure of nicotine in reduced amounts. Currently, the FDA Center for Tobacco Products regulates cigarettes, tobacco, and smokeless tobacco and only e-cigarettes that are marketed to the consumer for therapeutic purposes are regulated by the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

There is a new trend hitting the market known as e-cigarettes, or “vaping.” Many people believe that e-cigarettes are better than traditional cigarettes, but research shows just how unhealthy and harmful e-cigarettes are for everyone. The FDA has not yet decided if e-cigarettes should be regulated like tobacco products. E-cigarettes are marketed to help people quit smoking and live a healthier nonsmoking life. E-cigarettes are meant to help break the habit of smoking, but why are there so many “toxic chemicals” (Gilger) in the vapor? Is this new invention to help people quit smoking or just another way for tobacco companies to get richer?

The severity of the health problems that come from smoking e-cigarettes are that we are still unaware of what exactly do these electronic devices contain. At it is stated in the article “Drug Facts: Electronic Cigarettes” that they contain different amounts of nicotine, flavoring, and other unknown chemicals. With these unknown chemicals, we are unaware of what can be the consequences or risks are with long-term consumption of using e-cigs. There are over “400,000 deaths each year in the United States” at a cause from smoking and inhaling nicotine; yet the worst risks are the development of cancer and heart diseases (Drug

Subsequently, e-cigarettes are known to be dangerous at any rate, because they contain toxic chemicals such as lead, formaldehyde, propylene, and many more which are all popular for initiating cancer (SCOPE, 31). More importantly, people exposed to secondhand smoke released (as vapor) from e-cigarettes should take extra precaution, because the vapor contains many carcinogens, as mentioned earlier, all a factor of cancer (www.lung.org, 2015). Be

Many argue that e-cigarettes decreases the chance of developing lung cancer. The good and bads of these devices have seen a significant amount of attention from both health experts and the

(Arnold,247) There are however many studies on the emissions of E-cigarettes and the toxins and particles in the vapor. One study tested traditional cigarettes versus electronic cigarette emissions. They used four different liquids ranging from 24mg/ml to 26mg/ml and were vaporized by two generic E-cigarettes, and regular cigarettes as the control. Pollutants from the vapor sample included VOCs, carbonyls, PAHs, nicotine, TSNAs, and glycols. Based on these results “Non-cancer risk analysis revealed “No Significant Risk” of harm to human health for vapor samples from E-liquid.”(McAuley,850) The tobacco smoke indicated a condition of “Significant Risk” of harm to human health. “With regard to cancer risk analysis, no vapor sample from the E-liquids exceed the risk limit for either children or adults. The Tobacco smoke sample approached the risk limits for adult exposure”(McAuley,850) A study done by Schober in 2013 concluded that E-cigarettes impair indoor air quality with high concentrations of particles in the air around the smokers. it also revealed that the nicotine content was 1.2% higher than what the manufacture claimed it was.(Silcox,20) Keep in mind that “each manufacture of E- cigarettes has a different design for the device and liquid,” This can change how much vapor they get, and the amount of E-liquid they use.(Arnold,A247) Dr. Paul Nicholson of Proctor and gamble argues that

For years, there have been studies to suggest that e-cigarette release toxic compounds. However, the source for such findings was recently discovered at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and it indicates that there is not a direct link to the source, but rather wide range of individual factors like temperature and age, for example, that differently affect the emission levels. Toxic chemicals like acrolein and formaldehyde are released from e-cigarettes which decomposes the two solvents (propylene glycol and glycerin) that are used in the vaporization of e-cigarettes. To find the ingredients used in the vapor, researchers compared two different e-cigarettes using gas and a liquid chromatography. They discovered that the puffs which are

Thanks for elaborating on this topic. The craving for nicotine has caused an effect on the lives of those who smoke and yet very difficult to let go. From my part of the world, smoking is a taboo for women but I see both men and women smoking in the United State, it was a shock to me. The point is that smoking is bad and has detrimental effects on the body. When the E- cigarette was discovered it became the new thing but now is a concern that it might live a life long addiction for nicotine (Knickman & Kovner 2015) Does this mean the E cigarette has nicotine in them? why is there that fear?. The problem we have is how we help those who smoke change their lifestyle. As explained by Schwartz et al (2010) lifestyle change has proven to produce

Tobacco use is a major threat to public health. Lung cancer and heart disease are the major causes of mortality and morbidity among smokers. In addition to that, second hand and even third hand exposure to tobacco smoke represents a risk of cardiovascular disease developments. With the increased awareness of these risks, a trend towards smoking cessation started years ago. As part of this alteration electronic cigarettes were initially introduced to the U.S market in 2006 as a healthier alternative to conventional tobacco cigarettes, and as a smoking cessation aid. Since their introduction to the market, e-cigarettes had widespread success among smokers, non-smokers, pregnant females and even youth, their sales increased by 1437% since 2008.

Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that are created to provide flavor, nicotine, and other chemicals. The device then converts the various chemicals into aerosol which is inhaled by users (“Electronic Cigarettes”, 2015). Even though many e-cigarettes are produced to resemble traditional cigarettes, some of them look like daily items such as USB devices and pens. These devices have attracted considerable attention in the recent past since users can smoke them virtually anywhere. The significant attention and use is attributed to claims that

and educate the public about the harmful effect of e-cigarettes. Despite the use of tobacco

I think the random study that you mentioned that was done on e-cigarettes is very concerning because it showed that many brands are producing vapors that contain particles of copper, nickel, and tin. I think that is disturbing. It makes you worry about what those particles might do to the lungs or bloodstream of a person who inhales them. I feel that the possible health risks of e-cigarettes have not been thoroughly studied and investigated yet, so we don't really know what the potential for long-term health effects might be. I agree with you in thinking that the flavors and designs of the e-cigarettes are attracting young people to try them. I do feel though that if they are used under the right circumstances as a cessation device

When you are in town or in a crowd somewhere do you notice small clouds of smoke floating around? These little clouds of smoke are probably coming from someone smoking an electronic cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes are becoming more popular day by day over any type of regular cigarette. The question is are they safer than regular cigarettes? Some say yes but others say no; I for one say yes they are way safer and more effective than regular cigarettes but yet there are still some risks with using them. According to Aziz-ur-Rahman, “world health organisation (SIC) stated that, till early 2014 there are 466 brands of e-cigs available” (122). 466 brands of e-cigs that have more benefits than risks over regular cigarettes.

Obviously, there is criticism of the product – even if it is mostly, it appears, legal. Yet e-cigarette manufacturers and other proponents of e-cigarettes counter such criticism by saying their product is safe and a better alternative to “real” cigarettes because there is no tobacco or combustion or smoke involved. E-cigarettes also represent a very lucrative business opportunity for the established tobacco companies as well as