E-cigarettes and vapes are new, so we’re still learning about them. But we wanted to figure out how they can affect your health. Now, we know there are several different types of e-cigs and vapes available, but it turns out that no matter what type someone is using, the aerosol they’re breathing isn’t harmless. Check out the video below to see more about what we found.
More info on e-cigs:
Just because a label says there’s no nicotine doesn’t mean it's true – there’s just no way for us to know for sure. 4, 5, 6
Vaping nicotine could affect how your brain functions. 7
More than 60 harmful chemicals can find their way into your system when you vape. Some of those can cause cancer down the line or lead to respiratory issues and blocked airways. 12, 13
Vapes and other tobacco products have been found to contain lead that can give you brain damage. 14
Formaldehyde is a chemical that's used to preserve dead bodies. It's also found in vapes. 15
Even small amounts of arson, lead or formaldehyde could cause brain damage, lung disease or cancer. Vapes contain these toxic chemicals and more. 15
Benzene can be found in truck exhaust and some e-cig aerosols. 11
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1 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS). A Report of the Surgeon General: How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease: What It Means to You (Consumer Booklet). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health; 2010.
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2
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Vaporizers, E-Cigarettes, and other Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS). Retrieved from: https://www.fda.gov/tobaccoproducts/labeling/productsingredientscomponents/ucm456610.htm. Accessed 5 July, 2017.
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3
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Electronic Cigarettes. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm172906.htm. Updated July 7, 2015. Accessed July 9, 2015.
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4
Cheng T. Chemical evaluation of electronic cigarettes. Tobacco Control. 2014; 23:ii11–ii17.
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5
Trehy ML, Ye W, Hadwiger ME, et al. Analysis of electronic cigarette cartridges, refill solutions, and smoke for nicotine and nicotine related impurities. Journal of Liquid Chromatography Related Technology. 2011; 34:1442–1458.
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6
Trtchounian A, Talbot P. Electronic nicotine delivery systems: is there a need for regulation? Tobacco Control. 2011; 20(1):47-52.
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7
Faulkner, P., Dean, A. C., Ghahremani, D. G., & London, E. D. (2020). Neural Basis of Smoking-Related Difficulties in Emotion Regulation. The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology, 23(7), 409–416. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyaa015
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8
Obisesan, O. H., Mirbolouk, M., Osei, A. D., Orimoloye, O. A., Uddin, S. M. I., Dzaye, O., El Shahawy, O., Al Rifai, M., Bhatnagar, A., Stokes, A., Benjamin, E. J., DeFilippis, A. P., & Blaha, M. J. (2019). Association Between e-Cigarette Use and Depression in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2016-2017. JAMA network open, 2(12), e1916800. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.16800
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9
Patten S. B. (2021). Vaping and Mental Health. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry = Journal de l'Academie canadienne de psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, 30(1), 3–5.
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10
Williams M, Villarreal A, Bozhilov K, Lin S, Talbot P. Metal and silicate particles including nanoparticles are present in electronic cigarette cartomizer fluid and aerosol. PLoS One. 2013; 8(3):e57987.
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11
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS). E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General (Fact Sheet). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health; 2016.
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12
Truth Initiative. (2021, May). E-Cigarette Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://truthinitiative.org/sites/default/files/media/files/2022/03/Truth_E-Cigarette_Factsheet_update_May_2021.pdf
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13
Gotts, J. E., Jordt, S. E., McConnell, R., & Tarran, R. (2019). What are the respiratory effects of e-cigarettes?. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 366, l5275. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l5275
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14
Dunbar, Z. R., Das, A., O'Connor, R. J., Goniewicz, M. L., Wei, B., & Travers, M. J. (2018). Brief Report: Lead Levels in Selected Electronic Cigarettes from Canada and the United States. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(1), 154. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010154
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15
National Cancer Institute. (2022, February 7). Formaldehyde and Cancer Risk. Retrieved May 10, 2023, from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/formaldehyde/formaldehyde-fact-sheet
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16
Lerner CA, Sundar IK, Yao H, et al. Vapors produced by electronic cigarettes and e-juices with flavorings induce toxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response in lung epithelial cells and in mouse lung. PLoS One. 2015; 10(2):e0116732.
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17
Bahl V, Lin S, Xu N, Davis B, Wang YH, et al. Comparison of electronic cigarette refill fluid cytotoxicity using embryonic and adult models. Reproductive Toxicology. 2012; 34:529–537.
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18
Behar RZ, Davis B, Wang Y, et al. Identification of toxicants in cinnamon-flavored electronic cigarette refill fluids. Toxicology In Vitro. 2014; 28:198–208
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19
Goniewicz ML, Knysak J, Gawron M, et al. Levels of selected carcinogens and toxicants in vapour from electronic cigarettes. Tobacco Control. 2014; 23(2):133-139.
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20
CDC. Toluene. NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. 2016.
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21
NOAA. Xylene. CAMEO Chemicals. 2016.
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22
Allen JG, Flanigan SS, LeBlanc M, Vallarino J, MacNaughton P, Stewart JH, Christiani DC. Flavoring chemicals in e-cigarettes: diacetyl, 2,3-pentanedione, and acetoin in a sample of 51 products, including fruit-, candy-, and cocktail-flavored e-cigarettes. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2016; 124:733-739.
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23
Barrington-Trimis JL, Samet JM, McConnell R. Flavorings in electronic cigarettes: an unrecognized respiratory health hazard? Journal of the American Medical Association. 2014; 312(23):2493-2494.
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Sears, C., Hart, J., Walker, K., Lee, A., Keith, R., & Ridner, S. (2016). A Dollars and "Sense" Exploration of Vape Shop Spending and E-cigarette Use. Tobacco prevention & cessation, 2(Suppl), 9. https://doi.org/10.18332/tpc/67435
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Alabama Cooperative Extension System. (2019, July 23). The Cost of Vaping. Retrieved May 10, 2023, from https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/health/the-cost-of-vaping/
about why we choose to live without tobacco products.