E-cigarettes take a hard blow after Japanese scientists revealed that it contains more cancer-causing agents than regular tobacco.
The e-cigarettes are increasingly popular especially among the youth. These devices work by heating flavored liquids (which usually contain nicotine) into a vapor. The vapor is inhaled by the user, much like ordinary cigarettes minus the smoke.
The study, funded by the Health Ministry of Japan, revealed that the vapor produced by different types of e-cig liquid contains carcinogens such as acetaldehyde and formaldehyde. It further revealed that formaldehyde, the substance usually used as embalming fluid, in e-cig vapors are much higher than that found in the smoke of ordinary cigarettes.
The researchers analyzed different e-cig cartridges using a specialized machine that “smoked” ten sets of fifteen puffs. They discovered that one particular brand of e-cigarette even consistently contains 10 times the amount of the carcinogens (formaldehyde) compared to a regular stick of cigarette, though most of the results varied throughout the study. Higher amounts of the carcinogens appeared to be produced when the heating material (wire) gets overheated.
In the US, no strict regulation is imposed on the manufacturing and sale of e-cigarettes which poses great danger to public health. It can be a serious threat.
Last August, the World Health Organization encouraged governments to bar the sale of e-cigarettes to children and minors, cautioning them of the “serious threat” it pose to youth and unborn babies.
Notwithstanding limited research on the negative effects of the use of e-cigarettes, the WHO is convinced that there was enough evidence to warn the public about the use of these devices. They also recommend the banning of e-cigs in public places.
Advocates of e-cigarettes claim that these devices are much safer alternative to the conventional tobacco, as it contains no toxic gases and chemicals that can cause cancer, cardiovascular disease and strokes.
On the other hand, anti-smoking supporters contend that these devices may have long-term health effects, only that they are still unclear as more research about the product is required.
On the sides, big tobacco manufacturing companies are complaining of the more than $3 billion losses to the bulging global market of e-cigarettes.
