Published on January 24th, 2018 | by Rob
0Is Vaping Electronic Cigarettes Safe In 2018?
The debate of how safe vaping is has been an ongoing one since people began the practice. Vaping has grown into a popular substitute for cigarettes particularly for people who want to quit.
You may be looking to minimize your tobacco intake by switching to vaping in 2018 and wondering if the benefits it is said to offer are real.
The practice of smoking electronic cigarettes started in China and made its way to the rest of the world.
To answer the question of how safe e-cigs are to users and the people around, it helps to get a few basics first.
How an Electronic Cigarette Works
An e-cig or a vaping device is made up of a cartridge, battery, and an LED light.
The cartridge contains an electronic liquid or e-juice that heats and evaporates once the heating element is activated.
There is a chip or sensor in the device that triggers the process when you take a draw. The user then inhales the vapors, hence the term vaping.
Is it Safer than Smoking Cigarettes
Vaping, like cigarette smoking, comes with some risks. One reason manufacturers advertise it as safe is because it is made differently than a cigarette.
Regular cigarettes are made with a mixture of compounds; not just nicotine. Some of the substances are harmful.
Cigarettes produce tar and carbon monoxide, which increase health risks in users.
The argument here is that vaping doesn’t expose users to a host of dangerous substances. However, nicotine, which is a stimulant like caffeine, is still a highly addictive substance and users should consider that regardless of whether it’s pure or not.
Some of the e-liquids used in vaping are chemical flavorings, which are mainly for culinary purposes.
A majority of these compounds are generally recognized as safe, but this assumption assumes that they are being ingested, not inhaled.
The hazards of heating and vaporizing chemical flavorings may not be fully comprehensible.
Users can experience slight irritation of the lungs and airways, but it is not evident if this causes long-term damages.
Conversely, these flavorings may not have lasting effects on the body, and not all manufacturers add flavors to their e-juices.
E-cigarettes are tobacco-free, which is one reason some people prefer them to cigarettes.
The dangers of tobacco have been highlighted incessantly. For a smoker who wants to quit tobacco, vaping certainly provides a safer option. The fact that you vape instead of smoke contributes to the safety argument.
Second-hand smoke is a significant health hazard, and that is why smokers are restricted to specific areas.
There is no combustion in an e-cig, and this eliminates threats of second-hand smoke. However, some opponents of the argument claim that vaping degrades indoor air quality.
You can use a vape guide to get more information on this aspect.
Safety of Vaping Devices
Another angle to look at when analyzing the safety of vaping is the device used for this practice.
Vaporizers have a power source, which, understandably, may raise questions as to the dangers of the construction.
Of course, the risks of defective batteries or circuitry malfunctions when charging are present.
However, people deal with similar hazards every day from their cellphones.
With the right device and proper maintenance, a vaporizer will serve your vaping needs for a good while.
It is why vapers should be meticulous when picking their vaping kits, especially if it’s the first time.
Regulation of Electronic Cigarettes
Because e-cigs don’t contain nicotine, there aren’t many regulations against their use. However, there are some restrictions on vaping devices and e-liquids. Before getting into vaping, understand if you have to adhere to any specific rules.
E-juices contain nicotine and so, are harmful to children, which is why they must be sold in tamper-proof devices.
Users are also advised to store them properly. Some regions also limit the capacity of e-liquid that vendors can sell.
Find out if there are minimum capacities for refillable and disposable vaporizers. In some areas, the nicotine content in e-liquids can also be restricted. Various cities also limit vaping in regions where smoking is restricted.
Vaping is still a relatively new trend, and because of that, the scientific research on it is flimsy at best. A majority of the arguments for and against vaping are based on educated guesses.
Some studies are available on the dangers of the toxins found in e-liquids.
What users can do is keep up with the latest developments in the ongoing studies to stay informed.
As with anything else, vaping poses a few risks to users. For a smoker seeking a less hazardous option, vaping is a viable choice. Even the toxins contained in e-liquids are at much fewer levels than those in conventional cigarettes.
It is paramount, though that you understand more than just the basics of vaping if you want to take it up.
Learn about the variety of e-juices used in e-cigs, ask about potential health risks, and know the best way to minimize them.