The original intent of e-cigarettes, reportedly, was to transition smokers from carcinogenic “regular” cigarettes to seemingly safer “vaping.” Vaping lowers the incidence of lung cancer cases but is responsible for other harmful conditions and tendencies.
For instance, according to the American Cancer Society, not everyone who takes up vaping quits smoking; a surprising number of people now do both! In addition, many people who never smoked decide to take up vaping, and teens who vape are more likely to take up smoking, not less.
Then in a one-year span in 2019 and 2020, “e-cigarette or vaping product–use associated lung injury” (EVALI) killed dozens of people and hospitalized over 3,000 others, with the ingredient vitamin E acetate the prime suspect in the outbreak. The numbers were likely higher, but COVID-19, which also affects the lungs, took center stage in 2020.
Vaping products are highly unregulated. Vaping chemicals and their amounts vary widely and may be listed inaccurately, if at all. Highly addictive nicotine is a notable one. Propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, common food additives, are perfectly fine to ingest but may cause lung irritation and transform into cancer-causing chemicals when inhaled. Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen and byproduct of vape heating, is in the mix, too.
Although vaping rates for adolescents/young adults have declined over the past decade, the CDC estimates that over 2 million of them still vape (total vapers, 13+ million). In addition to negatively impacting respiratory, cardiovascular, and oral health, nicotine is believed to harm brain development in teenagers and cause premature births and low-birthweight babies.
If you or a loved one has been harmed by vaping, schedule a free consultation at our firm.
