page_title: Safety of electronic cigarettes
section_title: As an alternative to smoking
hierarchical_section_title: Safety of electronic cigarettes / As an alternative to smoking
caption_attribution_description: English: Adverse effects of vaping. Entries Brain: Addiction&#91;1&#93; Dizziness&#91;2&#93; Headaches&#91;2&#93; Eyes: Eye irritation&#91;3&#93; and blurry vision&#91;2&#93; Corneoscleral lacerations or ocular burns after e-cigarette explosion&#91;4&#93; Airways: Irritation and cough&#91;5&#93; Increased airway resistance&#91;6&#93;&#91;7&#93; Irritation of the pharynx&#91;8&#93; Stomach: Nausea and vomiting&#91;5&#93;&#91;7&#93; Abdominal pain&#91;2&#93; Heart and circulation: Chest pain&#91;7&#93; Increased blood pressure&#91;7&#93; Increased heart rate&#91;7&#93; Mortality: Death after e-cigarette explosion (small risk)&#91;4&#93; References ↑ State Health Officer's Report on E-Cigarettes: A Community Health Threat.&#32;California Tobacco Control Program&#32;(January 2015). ↑ a b c d &#32;(2014).&#32;"Science and Electronic Cigarettes". Journal of Addiction Medicine&#32;8&#32;(4): 223–233. DOI:10.1097/ADM.0000000000000049. PMID 25089952. PMC: 4122311. ISSN 1932-0620. ↑ &#32;(28 April 2015).&#32;"E-cigarettes: Considerations for the otolaryngologist.". International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology. DOI:10.1016/j.ijporl.2015.04.032. PMID 25998217. ↑ a b &#32;(2016).&#32;"Corneoscleral Laceration and Ocular Burns Caused by Electronic Cigarette Explosions". Cornea&#32;35&#32;(7): 1015–1018. DOI:10.1097/ICO.0000000000000881. PMID 27191672. PMC: 4900417. ISSN 0277-3740. ↑ a b Grana, R&#32;(13 May 2014).&#32;"E-cigarettes: a scientific review.". Circulation&#32;129&#32;(19): 1972–86. DOI:10.1161/circulationaha.114.007667. PMID 24821826. PMC: 4018182. ↑ Ebbert, Jon O.&#32;(2015).&#32;"Counseling Patients on the Use of Electronic Cigarettes". Mayo Clinic Proceedings&#32;90&#32;(1): 128–134. DOI:10.1016/j.mayocp.2014.11.004. PMID 25572196. ISSN 00256196. ↑ a b c d e Orellana-Barrios, Menfil A.&#32;(2015).&#32;"Electronic cigarettes-a narrative review for clinicians". The American Journal of Medicine. DOI:10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.01.033. PMID 25731134. ISSN 00029343. ↑ &#32;(2017).&#32;"E-Cigarettes and Smoking Cessation: A Primer for Oncology Clinicians". Clin J Oncol Nurs. DOI:10.1188/17.CJON.54-63. PMID 28107337. To discuss image, please see Template talk:Human body diagrams
context_page_description: The use of electronic cigarettes carries health risks compared to not using any inhaled recreational drugs, especially for children, young adults, and pregnant women. The risk depends on the composition of electronic cigarette aerosol, which varies according to the contents of the liquid, the physical and electrical design of the device, and user behavior. As of 2019, the long-term risks of vaping are somewhat uncertain because studies have yet to be performed on the relatively new technology, though the long-term risks of some individual substances in vaping aerosols and tobacco smoke have been studied.
  When used to deliver nicotine, vaping avoids several carcinogens usually found in tobacco smoke produced by cigarettes and cigars, such as ash, tar, and carbon monoxide. E-cigarettes reduce lung function, reduce cardiac muscle function, and increase inflammation, but to a much lower extent than with traditional cigarettes. Some hazards occur with vaping but not with smoking.
context_section_description: Electronic cigarettes have been proposed as a healthier alternative for people who otherwise cannot or choose not to quit smoking, even if complete abstinence from inhaled nicotine products is healthiest. In June 2014, the Royal College of Physicians stated that, "On the basis of available evidence, the RCP believes that e-cigarettes could lead to significant falls in the prevalence of smoking in the UK, prevent many deaths and episodes of serious illness, and help to reduce the social inequalities in health that tobacco smoking currently exacerbates." Since vapor does not contain tobacco and does not involve combustion, users may avoid several harmful constituents usually found in tobacco smoke, such as ash, tar, and carbon monoxide. A 2014 review found that e-cigarette aerosol contains far fewer carcinogens than tobacco smoke, and concluded that e-cigarettes "impart a lower potential disease burden" than traditional cigarettes. The public health community is divided, even polarized, over how the use of these devices will impact the tobacco epidemic. Some tobacco control advocates predict that e-cigarettes will increase rates of cigarette uptake, especially among youth. Others envision that these devices have potential for aiding cessation efforts, or reducing harm among people who continue to smoke. Scientific studies advocate caution before designating e-cigarettes as beneficial but vapers continue to believe they are beneficial. It is estimated their safety risk is similar to that of smokeless tobacco, which has about 1% of the mortality risk of traditional cigarettes. The risk of early death is anticipated to be similar to that of smokeless tobacco.
  Public health authorities are concerned that electronic cigarettes may increase overall nicotine exposure for young people and increase use of burned tobacco products among young and older people by acting as a gateway drug for non-smokers and sustaining or restarting nicotine addiction among smokers and former smokers, respectively.
  As of 2013, no long-term studies have evaluated future tobacco use as a result of e-cigarette use. E-cigarette vapor potentially contains harmful substances not found in tobacco smoke. 
  Opinions that e-cigarettes are a safe substitute to traditional cigarettes may compromise tobacco control efforts.
  The American Cancer Society has stated, "The makers of e-cigarettes say that the ingredients are "safe," but this only means the ingredients have been found to be safe to eat. Inhaling a substance is not the same as swallowing it. There are questions about how safe it is to inhale some substances in the e-cigarette vapor into the lungs."
  The Canadian Cancer Society has stated that, "A few studies have shown that there may be low levels of harmful substances in some e-cigarettes, even if they don't have nicotine."
  In the UK a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline did not recommend e-cigarettes as there are questions regarding the safety, efficacy, and quality of these products.
  Because the devices are relatively new, long-term data showing whether vaping is a "healthier alternative" to cigarette smoking does not exist.
caption: Possible adverse effects of vaping.[37]
exif: {}