Are electronic cigarettes dangerous for health?

The growing popularity of e-cigarettes, particularly among adults and adolescents with no prior smoking history, has ignited discussions about their potential health effects.

E-cigarettes offer an alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes by heating a liquid into an inhalable vapor, replacing the need for tobacco combustion. They partly owe their success to the possibility of adjusting the nicotine content and the availability of pleasant flavours. While e-cigarettes produce fewer toxicants than the approximately 7,000 chemicals found in regular cigarette smoke, they may still contain harmful substances such as heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and carcinogens.

The addictive potential of nicotine is similar in both forms of smoking, making it challenging for users to quit. Some studies indicate associations between e-cigarette use and lung inflammation, respiratory symptoms, and an increased susceptibility to respiratory infections. It has also been associated with increased heart rate, blood pressure, and arterial stiffness, indicating potential risks to cardiovascular health.

While e-cigarettes have been advertised as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, the available evidence suggests that are not risk-free. Long-term studies on the effects of e-cigarettes are still emerging, and the full extent of their health implications may not be known for years.