The claim that vaping is safe or significantly safer than cigarettes deserves careful examination. Compared to combustible cigarettes, vaping does eliminate many combustion-related carcinogens. On that dimension, vaping is likely less harmful than smoking. But "less harmful than cigarettes" is a very low bar and does not mean safe.
Heavy metals in e-cigarette vapor are a specific concern supported by multiple studies. The nichrome or stainless steel coils used to heat vaping liquid can leach lead, nickel, chromium, and manganese into the aerosol. A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found heavy metal concentrations at levels considered potentially hazardous with regular use.
Diacetyl, a buttery-tasting compound found in many food flavorings, was found in a significant percentage of flavored e-cigarettes in a 2015 Harvard study. Diacetyl is associated with bronchiolitis obliterans, a serious and irreversible obstructive lung disease known as popcorn lung.
Resources for Quitting Vaping
- This Is Quitting by Truth Initiative: specifically designed for young people who vape, text-based program
- Text DITCHVAPE to 88709 to enroll
- 1-800-QUIT-NOW also supports vaping cessation
References
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