What are the potential dangers of e-cigarettes?

(Baonghean.vn) - A recent report by the US Surgeon General's Office has stated that the use of electronic cigarettes, also known as "Vaping", is a "major health concern" for users. This has heated up the debate on whether this new habit is safer than smoking regular cigarettes.

On this issue, there are currently two schools of thought within the health professional community.

In the United States, tobacco control advocates have been adamant in their rejection of e-cigarettes, arguing that they are no safer or any different from smoking conventional cigarettes. Meanwhile, health experts and medical officials in the United Kingdom have taken a less strident view, saying that e-cigarettes are safer than smoking conventional cigarettes.

Vaping: More harm than good.

In fact, e-cigarettes produce vapor from nicotine-containing solutions without burning tobacco leaves like regular cigarettes. This helps eliminate tobacco smoke – the most harmful component of smoking. Therefore, public health officials in the UK want to use e-cigarettes as a method of quitting smoking for smokers in this country.

However, officials in the US worry that e-cigarettes will attract more people who have never used or are addicted to nicotine.

Concerns from US officials are well-founded after a recent investigation report by US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy showed a rapid increase in the number of e-cigarette users in the US, especially among young people. The report showed a 900% increase in the number of students using e-cigarettes from 2011 to present, leading to the appearance of e-cigarette stores across the country.

The report also provides specific scientific evidence of the sensitivity of the developing human brain to nicotine, one of the most addictive chemicals.

The popularity of Vaping among young people.

At the same time, the use of electronic cigarettes is also bringing another unpredictable danger to the health of users. That is the possibility of electronic cigarettes exploding. In the US, in just two years 2015 - 2016, there were 66 cases of electronic cigarette devices exploding abnormally, causing very serious effects to users.

The reason why an e-cigarette can explode is due to the Lithium battery used in the cigarette. According to Associate Professor Venkat Viswanathan, majoring in mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (USA): "The electrolytes inside the battery are similar to... gasoline. Therefore, if the battery is unfortunately short-circuited, the heat generated inside can cause these substances to catch fire and explode."

Currently, buying, selling and using electronic cigarettes are completely legal, so using or not using is the right of each individual. However, with scientific research as well as actual usage data, the current movement of using electronic cigarettes is not necessarily a "clean movement". It is best to consider carefully before buying and using this technological device.

Ha Linh

(According to The Atlantic.com)