What is vaping?
Vaping is the inhalation of an aerosol created by an e-cigarette or other vaping device. The aerosol is made up of a fine spray of chemicals and small particles.
Vaping has been proposed as a healthier alternative to smoking, however with no long-term research yet conducted, this opinion is simply not backed by research.
What is in the vapour?
Vaping juices generally contain water, flavours, solvents and nicotine. Chemicals found in the juices/vapours include very fine particles, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Some of these are known to be toxic, including chemicals that can cause cancer. For instance, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are chemicals that occur naturally in coal, crude oil and gasoline.
The levels of most of these compounds are less than in tobacco, which is why it is claimed to be a safer alternative. However, vaping has been the cause of a number of deaths from acute lung disease, and there are an increasing number of studies demonstrating that vaping has both short and medium-term effects on the heart and lungs. The long-term health effects of vaping are not known given it is a fairly new activity, however, some studies have found that vapours from e-cigarettes can damage human DNA, which is a pathway to developing cancer.
If you would like to know more about vaping and its effects on the body, click here.
