The Underestimated Harm Of Electronic Cigarettes

Containing harmful substances
On December 19, 2011, Elizabeth Porter, director of the Federal Centre for Health Education under the German Ministry of Health, stated that "the consumption of electronic cigarettes is closely linked to health risks, as commonly used cigarette tubes often contain harmful substances in addition to addictive nicotine". "Therefore, we recommend stopping the consumption of electronic cigarettes".
Electronic cigarettes are mainly composed of three parts: a tube for holding nicotine solution, an evaporation device, and a battery. When used, nicotine solution evaporates due to heat and is inhaled by people. Due to the fact that nicotine is usually dissolved in propylene glycol solution, smokers can also exhale white mist when smoking electronic cigarettes, achieving "swallowing clouds and exhaling fog". According to personal preferences, smokers can also add flavors such as chocolate and mint into their pipes.
Therefore, the safety of additives in electronic cigarettes is worrying. The German Federal Centre for Health Education pointed out that nearly 90% of the gas inhaled from electronic cigarettes is propylene glycol, a chemical that can irritate the respiratory tract in a short period of time. It is currently unclear what adverse effects long-term and repeated inhalation of propylene glycol will have on the human body. In addition, in addition to the commonly known ethanol, glycerin and essence, American researchers have also detected the carcinogen nitrosamines in some electronic cigarettes.
The Federal Health Education Center stated that due to the fact that manufacturers often do not specify the nicotine solution composition of electronic cigarettes, the health risks faced by consumers are difficult to estimate, and further research is needed to determine whether the smoke exhaled during smoking will harm the health of others. Countries such as Brazil and Argentina have even explicitly banned the sale of electronic cigarettes.