A study recently published in the journal PLOS ONE warns that e-cigarettes are gateway into smoking for teens and young adults. Researchers estimate that the use of the electronic devices could shed 1.5 million years of life when users take up smoking.
Researchers also warn that e-cigs do more harm than good in the long run. The latest study assessed the risk of the devices by looking at the data in multiple studies.
- Electronic cigarettes are tobacco devices powered by batteries that heat up liquid solutions known as juices, which sometimes contain nicotine.
- The vapor resulting in the processes is ‘vaped’ instead of smoked.
The industry has touted the devices as a healthier alternative to cigarettes, but more and more studies are challenging that claim.
E-Cigarettes Likely a Gateway Into Smoking, Study Claims
In the U.S., e-cigs are especially popular among teens and young adults, even though the FDA has banned the sale of the devices to minors. The new study adds to the body of growing evidence that e-cigarettes are a gateway into smoking in teen and young adult years.
Recent research found that teens who use the devices have three times the level of toxic chemicals in their system than their peers who never vaped. A separate study revealed that the heating coils may up the risk of toxic metal poisoning.
That study found traces of toxic metals in the liquids, but the chemicals became more toxic after the liquid solutions were heated. Researchers concluded that the heating coils are the primary source of the toxic compounds.
The latest study focused on the risks of e-cigarettes and compared the findings with the risks of regular smoking. The research paper found that e-cigs can do more harm than good on a population level.
Image Source: Flickr
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.