By Jordan Roberts, Staff Reporter.
Electronic cigarettes, commonly known as e-cigs, have been in circulation for a couple of decades but have recently increased in popularity within the last 10 years.
E-cigs are becoming the trendy alternative for smoking cigarettes that provide a person with fun flavors, the sensation of smoking and the administration of nicotine.
The marketing of e-cigs has been aimed at some common themes that generally frequent smoking alternatives: it may help a person quit or provide a safer method of smoking, and you can still look cool doing it.
While the latter is one way to attract consumers to a product, it’s the former that has been under speculation from a number of researchers and institutions.
“E-cigarettes are not currently regulated by the FDA,” says Timothy Heinz, associate professor of respiratory care at Delta. “Unless each brand is tested, there is no way to determine what ingredients may be found in a particular e-cigarette.”
According to the American Lung Association, “In 2009, the FDA found detectable levels of toxic cancer-causing chemicals—including an ingredient used in antifreeze—in two leading brands of e-cigarettes and 18 various cartridges.”
The ALA explains that a study was conducted in 2014 to further examine e-cigs with a high power voltage level. Voltage levels can range from 3.3v to 5.0v and can be manipulated by the user to increase the administration of nicotine. The researchers found the carcinogen formaldehyde contained in the aerosol (vapor) when the voltage was set at a higher level.
The ALA also states that information is being gathered to confirm if the flavors in e-cigs are toxic or not, and that the flavors have been given a status of FEMA GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe by the Flavor and Extract Manufacturing Association). The ALA believes this to be problematic because the “status does not apply to inhaled substances; it only applies to food, meaning that substances with FEMA GRAS status are safe to eat, but perhaps not to inhale.”
Another issue under current investigation is whether the secondhand emission from e-cigs can be harmful. “Since we do not know the contents of e-cigarettes, we can not be sure of the effects of secondhand emissions,” says Heinz. He claims that while there remains no confirmation of its harm via secondhand emission, “There is no evidence that shows e-cigarette emissions (secondhand aerosol) are safe for non-users to inhale.”
According to Heinz, there is currently no evidence to support that smoking e-cigs helps with smoking cessation, either. He states that the FDA has approved seven therapies for smoking cessation that may benefit a smoker aiming to quit the habit.
“There is nicotine replacement therapy, nicotine/dopamine receptor site blocking therapy and behavior modification therapy. However, all therapies should include some form of counseling to achieve the desired results.”
While the data is still being studied and verification of the safety of e-cigs remains on standby, it is important to talk to your doctor about potentially quitting and using safer methods of removing tobacco, and nicotine, from one’s life.