California scientists found that the air in the homes of vapers had the same levels of particulate matter as the homes of non -vapers . However, the researchers did not include this good news in the study abstract or mention it in the paper where most readers would see it.
The research, conducted by scientists at San Diego State University (SDSU), was funded by a grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health.
The study looked at more than 300 homes in San Diego that had at least one smoker and a child under the age of 14. Particle monitors were installed in two locations in each home. The monitors continuously scanned the air in each home for normal particles between 0.5 and 2.5 micrometers for three months. The monitors sent the data to the researchers.
Particles of that size are found in cigarette smoke and other combustion products, dust, mold spores, and auto emissions. They are small enough to be inhaled deeply into the lungs and cause respiratory and cardiovascular disease. This is why secondhand smoke affects people who are close to smokers.
“Our main goal was to understand what was causing the high particle levels in the home to create an environment that was not conducive to child development,” said John Bellettiere, one of the study’s authors. The researchers also interviewed participants about their activities at the time.
Smoking and vaping
In homes with smokers, the levels of particulate matter were twice as high as in homes without smokers or vapers. Smoking was one of the causes of the high particle concentrations.
In the 14.1 percent of homes that used e-cigarettes , particle concentrations were nearly zero. “We did not see much difference in particle concentrations across the 43 homes that used e-cigarettes,” the authors write. That’s all they have to say about vaping.
