Vaping: e-Cigarette and Marijuana Vape Risks

January 5, 2018

Medical Author: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

From Medicinenet.com

What are e-cigarettes? What is “vaping”?

Bearded man vaping an e-Cigarette and blowing vapor

The long-term dangers of vaping remain unclear, but it has been implicated in some lung problems.

E-cigarettes (e cigarettes, or vaping) are smokable, refillable or replaceable cartridges or containers that hold liquid that contains nicotine, solvents, and chemical flavors. When a person inhales (“vaping”), they are putting a negative pressure on the device that triggers a battery to heat the liquid solution, which is then atomized into inhalable vapor.

Do e-cigarettes contain nicotine?

Depending upon the cartridge, it may contain no nicotine or up to about 16 mg nicotine. One container or cartridge has enough fluid for about 250 “puffs.” However, nicotine concentrations and fluid volumes plus the compounds in the fluids can vary, depending upon who makes the e- cigarette.

Can you vape marijuana?

Vape cartridge fluid is also similar in marijuana e-cigarettes, except the fluid contains THC (the main active ingredient in cannabis) and sometimes other cannabis components. The market for marijuana e-cigarettes has grown rapidly as more U.S. states legalize the substance for medicinal and recreational use.

How do e-cigarettes work?

An e-cigarette has three main parts 1) a rechargeable battery, 2) a vaporization chamber/atomizer, and 3) a liquid cartridge usually containing nicotine or THC, chemical flavoring, and other compounds. When you inhale on the tip of the e-cigarette, a valve opens to allow some fluid into the vaporization chamber/atomizer. The battery then heats the liquid, which vaporizes it, and then it is inhaled into the lungs.

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Many people who use hookahs believe hookah smoking is safer than smoking cigarettes, thinking that the tobacco smoke is filtered through water making it cleaner. This is not true. Inhaled hookah smoke contains the same toxins as cigarette smoke such as tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and other cancer-causing chemicals.Click for more differences between hookahs and smoking cigarettes »

What are the side effects of e-cigarettes? Are they safe?

It is not known how safe or how unsafe these products are. September of 2019 saw a rash of nearly 500 cases of respiratory illness linked to vaping throughout the US, according to the CDC, which reports symptoms to include cough, chest pain, nausea, shortness of breath, vomiting or diarrhea. As of September, six had died of “vaping lung disease.” The exact component of vape fluid had not been identified as of that time, but illness seems to affect users of both nicotine and cannabis e-cigarettes.

“While this investigation is ongoing, consider not using e-cigarette products,” the CDC advised as of Sept. 6. They further state, regardless of the ongoing investigation, youth, young adults and women who are  pregnant should not use e-cigarette products.

Nicotine is considered to be very addictive, and that seems to be a cause for concern. Low doses may cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and eye irritation. High doses of nicotine may cause tachycardia, high blood pressure, seizures, coma, and death. Moreover, the FDA reported detecting ethylene glycol in some of the e-cigarettes and cancer-causing substances called nitrosamines in others. In addition, some e-cigarettes have caught fire and/or exploded because of faulty batteries or malfunctioning battery chargers.

It took several decades to determine problems associated with tobacco use. It is likely that it will also take some time and study to determine how safe (or unsafe) e-cigarettes are. Experts claim that in order to stop cigarette smoking, it is probably better to use studied material such as nicotine gum, nicotine patches and/or counseling than to use e-cigarettes. They also suggest people do not start smoking e-cigarettes for fun or for quitting any tobacco products.

The CDC published a report about the number of calls to poison centers involving e-cigarette liquids containing nicotine. The proportion of calls to poison centers increased from 0.3% in 2010 to 41.7% as of February 2014. The bulk of these calls are related to small children that open the liquid nicotine containers. The liquid nicotine containers are not childproof; they appeal to young children because of the candy and fruit flavors. They can cause vomiting, and eye irritation.SLIDESHOWHow to Quit Smoking: 13 Tips to End AddictionSee Slideshow

Do e-cigarettes expel secondhand smoke?

Not much is known about the secondhand “vapor” that is expelled from users, including levels of nicotine, nitrosamines, and other components that are yet to be identified. Nevertheless, many people would prefer not to be in a restaurant or other place of business and be exposed to vapors that contain addictive nicotine, and possibly other products that have a potential for harm.

Do e-cigarettes cause “popcorn lung?”

“Popcorn lung” (bronchiolitis obliterans) is a lung disease that results in scarring and narrowing of the airways in the lungs. The disease was linked to a chemical, diacetyl that provides flavor to microwave popcorn. This compound and others that are similar, when inhaled, causes high risk for this disease.

Researchers found that 92% of e-cigarettes studied had at least one of three different compounds known to cause popcorn lung. Although long-term studies are absent, the American Lung Association considers e-cigarettes to be a dangerous risk factor for popcorn lung.

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Are e-cigarettes addictive?

There is some concern that e-cigarettes are being marketed to attract younger non-smokers with “flavored” liquids such as bubblegum, piña colada, vanilla, and others. Because most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, it is possible that people can become addicted to them. Some doctors are concerned that if they become addicted to the nicotine in the e-cigarettes, it may be an easy step up to smoking tobacco, which is associated with so very many health consequences.

Do e-cigarettes help with quitting smoking?

Although e-cigarettes have been touted as a way for tobacco smokers to kick their cigarette habit, e-cigarettes in one study were only about as effective as nicotine patches. The FDA does not recognize e-cigarettes to be a method to augment quitting smoking. However, there are 7 FDA-approved safe smoking quit aids available (patches, gum, mints, etc.), and has warned electronic cigarette maker Juul to stop saying vaping is safer than smoking.QUESTIONWhat is the average weight gain for those who quit smoking?See Answer

How many people use e-cigarettes?

Since this product was first developed in 2004 in China as a tobacco cessation device, it has grown rapidly so that in 2013 the estimated market is about 1.5 billion as compared to 100 billion for tobacco sales. However, the sale of this product is growing rapidly worldwide. The CDC suggests that as more people utilize e-cigarettes, the dramatic increase in nicotine poisoning in children will continue if nothing is done to prevent young children gaining access to nicotine-containing liquids. According to the FDA, over two million middle and high school students were e-cigarette users in 2016.

Are e-cigarettes regulated by the FDA?

As of 2016, the FDA now regulates the manufacture, import, packaging, labeling, advertising, promotion, sale, and distribution of ENDS (electronic delivery systems, such as e-cigarettes), including components and parts of ENDS (not including accessories. The American Lung Association is urging the FDA to require that diacetyl and other harmful chemicals be removed from e-cigarettes (removal from the fluid accessories).

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