How safe is your E-Cigarette and/or vapor product?

by: Sallie Williams, M-Power Project Specialist

Among e-cigarettes and vapor products, the chemical and nicotine content vary greatly. These unregulated products may provide uncontrolled doses of harmful chemicals. The vapor is not just water vapor. While some studies show that vapor products may contain fewer chemicals than combustible cigarettes, they still release nicotine and toxic chemicals into the air, meaning the air is no longer clean.
Increased use of vapor products among youth is concerning because nicotine is harmful to the developing brain and most e-cigarette or vapor products contains nicotine. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance, thus concerns exist that youth who being using e-cigarettes may transition to using traditional forms of tobacco as well. Kid-friendly flavors such as cherry and chocolate are banned by the FDA for cigarettes because of their potential to appeal to children; that is not the case with e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes come in many flavors, which may increase the appeal for youth.

“If you are around somebody who is using e-cigarettes, you are breathing an aerosol of exhaled nicotine, ultra-fine particles, volatile organic compounds, and other toxins.” Dr. Stanton Glantz, Director for the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California, San Francisco. At least 10 chemicals identified in e-cigarette aerosol are on California’s Proposition 65 list of carcinogens and reproductive toxins, also known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. The compounds that have already been identified in mainstream or secondhand e-cigarette aerosol include: Acetaldehyde (MS), Benzene (SS), Cadmium (MS), Formaldehyde (MS, SS), Isoprene (SS), Nickel (MS), Nicotine (MS, SS), N-Nitrosonornicotine (MS, SS), Toluene (MS, SS).

E-Cigarettes contain and emit propylene glycol, a chemical that is used as a base in e-cigarette solution and is one of the primary components in the aerosol emitted by e-cigarettes. Long term inhalation exposure can result in children developing asthma. Even though propylene glycol is FDA approved for use in some products, the inhalation of vaporized nicotine in propylene glycol is not.

Sean Gore, Chairman of Oklahoma Vapors Advocacy League, said the Executive Order banning electric cigarettes on state-owned and state-leased properties, unfairly demonizes electric cigarettes, and believes e-cigarettes are an effective tool for those who are trying to quit smoking tobacco cigarettes, “will rob many of a valuable cessation product.” “I think it will drive them back to smoking.” Gore said.

Terry Cline, Oklahoma Health Secretary, disagrees, saying e-cigarettes are not marked as cessation products and should not be treated as such until further study can be done. Cline added “secondhand smoke from e-cigarettes can, in fact, be harmful. It is a myth that the vapor is on a water vapor.”

Cline encouraged those trying to quit smoking to use proven cessation tools such as 1-800-QUIT-NOW.