The electronic cigarette has become a real hit with teenagers. A new study shows that teenagers who use it are exposed to significant amounts of chemicals that can potentially cause cancer. In fact, electronic cigarettes - once considered a healthy alternative to tobacco - contain varying levels of harmful substances and contribute to unhealthy behaviors.
The e-cigarette, less harmful than tobacco?
If the manufacturers considered vaping products as a safer alternative (but especially more aesthetic and trendy), the liquids are marketed in aromas likely to appeal to young users who, initially, may not have been smokers . Even though the liquid used in electronic cigarettes contains less nicotine than traditional cigarettes, it still creates an addiction. As a result, vaping doubles the risk of switching to the traditional cigarette.
Recall that nicotine increases blood pressure and heart rate, and the evidence also shows that it can be harmful for brain development. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to these problems.
Researchers at the University of California at San Francisco recently conducted a study published in the journal Pediatrics to determine the toxins associated with the use of electronic cigarettes, especially among adolescents.
To do this, they examined the urine of about 100 adolescents aged 16 years on average. 67 of them used only electronic cigarettes, while 17 used both electronic cigarettes and traditional cigarettes. They were compared to a control group of 20 non-smoking adolescents.
Harmful compounds
After analyzing the results of the study, they found that toxic compounds were three times higher among smokers of electronic cigarettes and traditional cigarettes than among people who only smoked electronic cigarettes. In addition, these compounds were much higher among users of electronic cigarettes than non-smokers.
The list of compounds includes acrylonitrile, acrolein, propylene oxide, acrylamide and crotonaldehyde, all of which have been linked to cancer.
- Acrylonitrile is a compound used to make plastics and adhesives. It is extremely toxic in high doses.
- Propylene oxide can irritate the eyes, skin and respiratory tract and cause central nervous system depression.
- Crotonaldehyde is a toxic and highly flammable liquid whose vapors are suffocating.
- Acrylamide is a compound used in the treatment of wastewater, and as an additive in herbicides to limit its dispersion. It can increase the risk of several types of cancer.
Dr. John Spangler of the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina states that "acrolein is so toxic that it is used in the manufacture of chemical weapons." When inhaled, it causes irreversible lung damage. It is also probably related to brain cancer and breast cancer. "
"Adolescents need to know that the vapor produced by electronic cigarettes is not just a harmless water vapor, but that it actually contains some of the same toxic chemicals found in the smoke of traditional cigarettes." said lead author Mark Rubinstein in a statement, "teens should inhale air, not products containing toxins. He adds.
The researchers also pointed out that carcinogenic chemicals, including the two e-liquids, propylene glycol and glycerin, were found in the body of those who used nicotine-flavored electronic cigarettes. Although approved by the Food and Drug Administration, these e-liquids produce potentially harmful substances when they reach their boiling point, 290 ° C.
According to another study conducted by the University of South Carolina, teens who use e-cigarettes are 6 times more likely to smoke a traditional cigarette within 2 years.
Scientists are now considering further research to better understand the harmful effects that e-cigarettes can have on young people and adults. They hope their discoveries will also warn teenagers of the risks.
