Cancer risks from e-cigarettes

According to new studies published in the American journal Plos One, people who use e-cigarettes may develop cancer due to the chemicals they contain.

Scientists at Portland University in the US have discovered that e-cigarettes operating at high intensity can produce benzene. This substance is then released along with the water vapor mixture (expelled as smoke) and inhaled by the user. The higher the power of the e-cigarette, the more vapor is produced. This means the user will experience a more pleasant, euphoric feeling, and a stronger flavor.

Scientists found a significant amount of benzene when using e-cigarettes within the manufacturer's recommended wattage range. The wattage used in the study is still much lower than what users can access in some commercially available e-cigarette devices, which can reach over 200 watts.

Both e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes pose health risks to humans. Photo: Getty Images.

Professor James Pankow stated: "Vaping at high power can actually produce thousands of times more benzene than the surrounding air, when using e-liquids containing benzoic acid or benzaldehyde."

Benzene (C6H6) is a colorless organic compound with a pleasant odor, widely used in all aspects of modern life. Benzene is present in the manufacture of plastics, rubber, detergents, paints, synthetic fibers, gasoline, and is found in industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust from traffic pollution, and cigarette smoke.

Inhaling or consuming foods contaminated with high concentrations of benzene can be fatal, and long-term exposure can cause leukemia, bone marrow failure, brain damage, immunosuppression, and infertility.

E-cigarettes have become increasingly popular in recent years. Many people have chosen this method to quit traditional cigarettes, despite ongoing debate about their safety.

However, one thing is certain: both e-cigarette and traditional cigarette use cause long-term health damage to users; the only difference is the degree of harm.

According to Zing