Nowadays, the e-cigarette products or vape is introduced as an “alternative” for the smokers. Quoted from nbcnews.com, according to the Centres for Disease Control (CDC), American youth are now more likely to use e-cigarettes or vape than other forms of tobacco. They are now widely loved by young adults or even the adults.
Reported In 2016, more than two million middle and high school students used e-cigarettes every month. In August 2019, it was reported that an 18-year-old student in the United States underwent emergency surgery for a lung. It was claimed that it caused by vaping, or using electronic cigarettes. Chance Ammirata, from Florida, United States said he began using Juul (a popular and lean vape product) containing nicotine, about 18 months ago after he was convinced that it was a safe alternative to smoking.
After feeling pain in the left side of his body and struggling to sit in a chair, he went to the hospital where he was told his left lung had been damaged.
They say vape is safer than ordinary cigarettes, but is it true? Vape usually contains liquid of various kinds of flavours, and no tobacco. And the fact that you should know, the vape liquid still contains nicotine extracted from tobacco. The difference is that this liquid is also mixed with a variety of flavours.
Okay, now we know that both cigarettes and vape contains nicotine. The effect of smoking is closely associated with lung-cancer. How about vape? Are there any dangers to the lungs? Although the price is far more expensive than ordinary cigarettes, vape is actually not really far from dangerous chemicals that threaten the body.
Tobacco smokes from cigarette is consider as the main cause to lung cancer. The smoke component is a carcinogen (which can cause lung cancer). However, the nicotine inside the cigarette is an addictive substance that makes someone want it again and again. Finally, the effects of tobacco smoke accumulate and can damage the lungs.
What about vape that isn’t made of tobacco? Is nicotine really safe for the lungs? According to Irina Petrache, a doctor and lung specialist at Indiana University, Indianapolis, her research team found out that nicotine from wherever it originated is dangerous for lung-tissue. Petrache and her team concluded that vaping is nothing more than smoking, when it comes to lung health. Even vape users are more at risk of nicotine exposure.
Why? Electric cigarette devices, especially tubes with higher voltages, can deliver large amounts of nicotine into the body. Therefore, e-cigarette users still have the potential for addiction. As we know that nicotine addiction can make it difficult for you to release it, your body will show certain physical symptoms when you try to get rid of it, such as dizziness and nausea.
Researchers who reported the findings in Toxicology and Applied Pharma-logy, tried to gather evidence of the impact of e-cigarettes on the lungs. The study, which consisted of 25 people, was found to have the same effect on the short-term effects of tobacco smoking and vaping. The results also show the same symptoms of inflammation and lung damage.
What more dangerous content in liquid vape?
Recently, researchers from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, discovered the effect of 13 vape tastes on the development of lung cells. The effect lasts for 30 minutes to a full day. There are at least 5 flavours, such as cinnamon, banana pudding, colas, vanilla, and menthol, which have an impact to lung cells. When you consume it in high doses, this taste can kill the normal cells. Some cells that have been affected by this taste cannot be reproduced by the body at normal levels.
In the United States, the ingredients of these flavours have FEMA-GRATSM status – meaning they are safe for use in food. But it turns out the fact is it is safe to eat, however, when you vaping, you inhale it instead of eat it. Diacetyl is a chemical flavouring material used for the production of foods such as popcorn, caramel, and various dairy products. Diacetyl is also found in the taste of e-cigarettes. But did you know that these ingredients can cause serious lung disease?
Yes, it turns out that you need to be careful with these types of electric cigarette taste. Not only it affects the lungs, but also the large amounts of nicotine could cause poisoning. Symptoms of nicotine-poisoning can be nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, the people will experience seizures and respiratory depression. And acute poisoning can also cause death.
About 30 to 60 mg of nicotine can kill adults. Whereas usually a small bottle of liquid vape contains 100 mg of nicotine. Indeed, the label information is not always accurate. The risk of death remains, if children or adults ‘consume’ a lot of the liquid. So, you must be careful of the levels of nicotine that enter your body.
Here are some points from various sources about the following explanation of some dangers in vape that you need to be aware of.
Decreasing the immune system
Elizabeth M. Martin, et al, conducted research published through the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill about immunity and the ability of body cells to fight infection. This research was conducted on active smokers, vape users, and non-smokers. The results are very surprising, that active smokers and vape users alike show signs of reduced activity of 594 genes that are known to support the immune system and fight infections. This discovery is evidence that compounds found in vape fluid that function to create steam have an immunosuppressive effect on the body.
The chemical content in the vape causes bronchiolitis obliterans or “popcorn lung”
Harvard researchers revealed that vape users were at risk of developing bronchiolitis obliterans or more commonly referred to as ‘popcorn lung’. The chemical content in the vape systematically destroys the smallest lung airways. The only way to overcome this disease is with a lung transplant. Can you imagine what it would be if your lungs had to be transplanted?
Vape can explode due to overheating
The explosion can occur due to overheating of the lithium ion battery used to drive the vape. This explosion is dangerous and can kill. Kenneth Barbero from Albany was one of the victims of a vape explosion and was seriously injured. In an interview, Kenneth explained that the explosion tore his tongue, his hands were burnt and some of his teeth were missing.
Addictive, even though the cartridge says “nicotine-free”
FDA laboratory tests found that nicotine was found to be incompatible with the refill cartridge label. So even though the vape cartridge is written “nicotine-free”, it is not necessarily completely nicotine-free, because the addictive nicotine content is in the refill cartridges.
Various cases of child poisoning occur because of vape
Vape liquid contains chemicals that are harmful to children. The content of liquid nicotine in it is very high. Side effects can make muscles twitch, increased heart rate, vomiting, and sweating. Even if the liquid is exposed to the skin, it can cause a burning sensation.
The metal content in vape smoke is as large as even more than traditional cigarette smoke
A study found that metals such as lead, nickel, silver, iron, aluminium, silicate, and chromium contained vape smoke in the same amount even greater than those found in traditional cigarette smoke. These particles can damage the respiratory system, pose a risk of cancer, and abnormal cell growth.
Most of the vape material also contains formaldehyde, a preservative in the mortuary
A professor of chemistry and engineering at Portland State University in Oregon discovered the presence of formaldehyde in vape fluid. Formaldehyde is a material for making glue and adhesives, coatings of paper products and building materials, even as a preservative in mortuaries and medical laboratories.
Risk of getting pneumonic lipoid
A 42-year-old woman developed lipoid pneumonia when she was just a vape user. This case is caused by an inflammatory reaction to the presence of lipid substances in the lungs, or fat deposits found in lung tissue. The doctor said that it all had to do with the glycerine-based oil found in vape. But right after she stopped using vape, his breathing improved.
Banned in some countries
According to the Consumer Advocates for Smoke Alternatives Association (CASAA), vape is banned in 9 countries:
- Australia issued a prohibition of using and selling vape containing nicotine.
- Jordan also issued a prohibition on the vape because it was approved to have chemical poison.
- Hong Kong was issued a prohibition of vape since March 2009. Sanctions for those who have and sell vape in this country are worth 100,000 Hong Kong dollars and two years in prison.
- The Canadian Department of Health urges its citizens not to buy or use them because they contain chemicals such as propylene glycol. These substances can cause allergic reactions.
- Saudi Arabia. The government argues, e-cigarettes contain carcinogenic substances and dangerous poisons.
- They prohibit the import, distribution and sales of electric or vape cigarettes. The penalty for Singaporeans who break them is a fine of up to 5,000 Singapore dollars.
- The Dutch Minister of Health has announced a banned regarding the free sale and import of e-cigarettes in 2011. However, e-cigarettes sold must have a pharmaceutical license that has strict rules.
- Recently, India also banned vape. The use of vape will be jailed for a maximum of 3 years in prison and a maximum fine of 10,000 US.
As for Indonesia, the biggest online marketplace in Indonesia, Tokopedia, decided to withdraw the sales of tobacco products, e-cigarettes and its derivatives from the Android version of the application on September 20, 2019.
What do you think? Do you guys still want to use vape? The choice is in your own hands. Don’t forget that we are all responsible for our own decisions. Have a healthy life!
