Despite the bad press surrounding the tobacco industry, e-cigarettes are popping up everywhere. The battery- powered devices deliver nicotine through a vaporized liquid, making e-cigarettes less harmful. Many predict that we’ll be out of cigarettes within 10 years.
While the average person has heard that e-cigarettes are either harmless or the worst thing in the world, it has not been able to resist the exponential growth of the tobacco industry. Manufacturers have claimed that e-cigarettes are a safer alternative to regular smoking. However, some food and drug administrations around the world have raised concerns about the safety of e-cigarettes.
In the face of mixed opinions, NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) has encouraged the use of nicotine-containing products as an alternative to smoking.
And in the end, the best evidence suggests that using e-cigarettes is less dangerous than smoking.
Because they do not burn tobacco, e-cigarettes are believed to be safer. According to a 2012 study titled “Comparison of the Effects of E-Cigarette Vapor and Cigarette Smoke on Air Quality,” among the products tested during the manufacturing process, e-cigarettes produced very small amounts of harmful substances, unlike regular cigarettes.
The study found that based on the compounds analyzed, there is no evidence of any danger to human health produced by e-cigarettes.
So while they look like real smoke, instead of nicotine-containing smoke, they’re actually water vapor. The biggest danger from cigarettes is the smoke, whereas e-cigarettes don’t burn anything. Tests have shown that the levels of harmful chemicals they produce are a fraction of what you’d get from a real cigarette.
What's more, vaping comes in a wide variety of flavors, making it appealing to many people and seemingly a more palatable alternative to smoking.
Of course, these essential oil products have sparked fierce debate among health experts and industry insiders. Some say they are a “gateway to addiction,” and that the widespread advertising and celebrity endorsements will make smoking popular again.
Others see the benefits for smokers. “Obviously if they can quit completely, that’s great,” says Michael Siegel, MD, MPH, a Boston University public health expert. “But if they can’t, I think they’re better off using e-cigarettes. They’re a safer option.”
