a multidimensional peer reviewed report on vaping

How does vaping affect the lungs?

A research review found numerous effects of vaping, or e-cigarette use, on the pulmonary system, from nasal cells to alveoli deep in the lungs. Recent scientific studies demonstrate that vaping, or use of e-cigarettes, has measurable effects on organ and cellular health, according to an NIEHS grantee and colleagues.

Is there a literature on vaping-associated pulmonary disease?

So far, most of the literature on vaping-associated pulmonary disease we have are case reports and case series. A high index of suspicion is paramount as there are reports of patients that rapidly progressed to acute respiratory failure requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation [3].

Is there any clinical research on vaping toxins?

Many of the clinical research studies available focus on aspects of vaping such as the amount of nicotine or marijuana delivered but there’s not a great deal of evidence on the analysis of other toxins released both from vaporizing tobacco leaf products and marijuana.

Why is vaping on the rise among adolescents?

Vaping by adolescents is a concern because of the risks of nicotine addiction and because of reports of an association between vaping and acute lung injury. This nationally representative survey finds sharp increases in the frequency of vaping among 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-grade students.

What is the biggest concern with vaping?

2: Research suggests vaping is bad for your heart and lungs. It causes you to crave a smoke and suffer withdrawal symptoms if you ignore the craving. Nicotine is a toxic substance. It raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack.

How does vaping affect academic performance?

Results indicate that e-cigarette use initiation is associated with lower subsequent academic performance, independent from the association between cigarette use initiation and lower academic performance among U.S. youth.

How is vaping affecting the environment?

The first type of waste that vaping products contain is plastic waste. Many popular e-cigarettes are pod-based devices with single-use plastic cartridges. Just like coffee capsules were over the past decade, the vape industry could soon be the next environmental crisis in terms of plastic pollution.

Does vaping impact athletic performance?

Vaping only adds to the injury risk and can cause dangerous respiratory symptoms for athletes. Nicotine can increase blood pressure and heart rate while narrowing the arteries. That's extremely dangerous in a situation where a student athlete is pushing themselves to the limit.

Does vaping impact memory?

Although vaping may seem like a better alternative to cigarettes, they are a tobacco product that can damage parts of the brain that are responsible for memory, emotion and thinking.

What are 5 positive effects of vaping?

Those who switch to vaping very quickly see great health benefits, including lower blood pressure, easier breathing, improved immune function, improved sense of taste and smell and improved lung function, all within the space of around a month!

Does vaping hurt the earth?

E-cigarette waste is potentially a more serious environmental threat than cigarette butts since e-cigarettes introduce plastic, nicotine salts, heavy metals, lead, mercury, and flammable lithium-ion batteries into waterways, soil, and to wildlife.

Does vaping save lives?

The World Health Organization has estimated that tobacco use is responsible for 16 percent of all deaths in adults over 30 in Europe. Vaping can reduce the number of deaths as it is proven to be 95 percent less harmful than traditional smoking.

Are vapes eco friendly?

E-liquid bottles are usually made from plastic, which is not biodegradable. So, when disposed of improperly, they can end up in landfills or the ocean where they will take centuries to break down. Most people who vape should be aware that it's important to recycle the plastic bottles that their e-juice comes in.

What are the benefits of vape?

Benefits of vaping Vaping can help some people quit smoking. Vaping is usually cheaper than smoking. Vaping is not harmless, but it is much less harmful than smoking. Vaping is less harmful to those around you than smoking, as there's no current evidence that second-hand vapour is dangerous to others.

Does vaping affect sperm?

Vaping has also been known to reduce sperm quality, count, and motility in males. The lack of quality sperm production makes egg fertilization nearly impossible for couples hoping to conceive.

Can vaping help with anxiety?

Stress and anxiety can trigger vape cravings, and make it harder for you to quit for good. You may be tempted to reach for your vape when you have these feelings, but vaping is not an effective way to cope.

How does nicotine affect academic performance?

High academic performance was found to be inversely proportional to student's smoking; at p-value 0.000 smokers had 2.5 (1.77, 3.74) odds of lower academic performance, boys having 2.17 (1.56, 3.03) odds of lower academic performance in last semester exams.

Does nicotine improve academic performance?

Nicotine does not appear to be associated with consistent cognitive performance effects.

How is vaping affecting college students?

College students who vape and smoke e-cigarettes are at a higher risk of developing an eating disorder, new research finds. These new findings match up with previous research that shows people who have eating disorders are likely to have other mental disorders, such as substance abuse.

Does nicotine affect your grades?

The estimates indicate that smoking one cigarette per day during adolescence can lower students' scores on mathematics tests by about 0.08 standard deviations.

What is the basic design of vaping?

The basic design of the device, in the case of vaping both tobacco and marijuana, is largely unchanged from the original patent by Gilbert. There is a reservoir that holds an oil or liquid, a mouthpiece, and a heating element. Theoretically, vaporizing the liquid does not combust it and saves the person va ping from exposure to byproducts generated by high heat . However, there is no regulation of these devices and no agreed upon standard temperature. There appears to be a wide variance in the quality of the components of these devices depending on the price of purchase.2,10,11,16,28

Who invented vaping?

The invention of vaping is attributed to Herbert Gilbert, a cigarette smoker and scrap metal dealer from Pennsylvania. Gilbert’s device was battery-powered to vaporize a liquid for inhalation, very similar to modern electronic cigarettes. He admitted to the Smithsonianmagazine that he believed it to be a breakthrough alternative to cigarette smoking to save people from tobacco’s harmful effects as it did not contain nicotine. After multiple permutations, the device was never mass-produced but its patent has been cited by many companies since then. He actually proposed an alternative use for the device for people that were dieting and believed that they could vaporize the tastes of their favorite foods to quench food cravings. He initially proposed a handful of flavorings including cinnamon, rum, orange, and mint.1–2A year after the patent was submitted in 1963, the Surgeon General Luther Terry released his report “Smoking and Health” on the potential health consequences of cigarette smoking. This was the first report implicating cigarettes in a causal relationship with lung cancer and heart disease as well as laryngeal cancer and chronic bronchitis.3

What solvents are used to dissipate nicotine?

The conventional solvents for the dissolution of nicotine or THC have been propylene glycol and glycerol, and these are the best studied. Initially thought to be benign, there is now some research demonstrating that propylene glycol when vaporized causes significant respiratory irritation and even increases the incidence of asthma. The breakdown products from heating propylene glycol and glycerol to target temperatures include formaldehyde and hemiacetals such as acetaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a Group 1 carcinogen that contributes a 5–15 times higher lifetime risk of cancer. It is present in traditional smoked tobacco in much lower quantities. Hemiacetals such as acrolein and acetone have been implicated in nasal irritation, cardiovascular effects, and lung mucosal damage and these byproducts are produced in higher quantities with higher voltage devices. Basically, as the temperature of the coil increases, the carcinogenic risk of vaping approaches that of traditionally smoked cigarettes.9,10,16–18

Is vaping harmful?

Good clinical evidence is lacking regarding the potential harm of vaping or the potential benefits. There are some problems with studying something like vaping. For one thing, any research has to make a distinction between vaporizing marijuana and vaporizing tobacco and this is not always possible. Additionally, the methods by which people vaporize tobacco and marijuana differ. As far as tobacco devices go, there are many brands with many different compositions and construction designs. Regarding the vaporization of marijuana, there are no standardized devices and there are no standard formulations.

Is vaping safer than smoking?

With the current body of evidence and the outbreak of EVALI in 2019, it is incumbent upon all healthcare practitioners to advise patients that vaping should not be considered safer than smoking and that there are very real and new dangers associated with vaping that still require further study. Providers must learn more about the dangers of vaping and identify adverse health effects from this practice in patients. An evidence-based approach to smoking cessation based on established data and practice patterns is needed.

Is vaping bad for you?

All of the medical dangers of vaping are unknown. Only a small number of people who admit to vaping marijuana are doing so for medical reasons, and there are almost no studies. A large number of people believe that vaping tobacco is a healthy way to quit, and this belief has been fostered by the tobacco industry.6,14There is no strong clinical signal in the direction of using electronic cigarettes as an effective method of quitting smoking. It is difficult to hold an informed discussion with patients about the potential risks and benefits of vaping. Potential risks come from multiple places: device specific concerns, the makeup of the liquid products being vaporized, and the potential for toxicity of both nicotine and marijuana when inhaled in concentrated forms.

Is vaping marijuana safe?

The studies on the safety or dangers of vaporizing marijuana are limited in number because the marijuana itself is difficult to acquire. There were a small number of the plants released in the early 90s for clinical research.12Most of those studies utilized the same device, manufactured under the name “Volcano”. This device is expensive and is drastically different from any of the modern handheld devices for vaporizing marijuana and tobacco. It does not serve as a good facsimile for comparison to modern day vaporization technology. Many of the clinical research studies available focus on aspects of vaping such as the amount of nicotine or marijuana delivered but there’s not a great deal of evidence on the analysis of other toxins released both from vaporizing tobacco leaf products and marijuana. With all of these limitations, most of the available studies are non-clinical or have very small numbers of study subjects. A strong and thorough assessment of the potential dangers of vaporizing tobacco and marijuana products has not been forthcoming.12,13

How much nicotine is in a Juul?

Devices may be obsolete by the time a study is finished. Devices differ — for example, Juul contains 59 milligrams per milliliter (mg per mL) nicotine in the U.S. and 18 mg per mL in the U.K. Ethical considerations around studying potentially harmful substances in participants who have never smoked.

How many times has the BMJ been read?

Massive increase in vaping. Jordt said that according to BMJ, the full text of the paper was read more than 28,000 times by mid-October and was featured in more than 26 news outlets in the U.S. and abroad. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Is vaping safer than smoking?

Vaping has measurable effects on the body, unclear if safer than smoking. A research review found numerous effects of vaping, or e-cigarette use, on the pulmonary system, from nasal cells to alveoli deep in the lungs. Recent scientific studies demonstrate that vaping, or use of e-cigarettes, has measurable effects on organ and cellular health, ...

Does vaping affect organs?

Recent scientific studies demonstrate that vaping, or use of e-cigarettes, has measurable effects on organ and cellular health, according to an NIEHS grantee and colleagues. They drew a second important conclusion from their analysis of peer-reviewed research: Not enough is known to say whether e-cigarettes are less harmful to ...

Does vaping affect the respiratory system?

Studies have shown vaping’s widespread effects on the respiratory system, from changes in sputum and the alveoli, which are the crucial gas exchange mechanisms of the lung, to cellular toxicity and altered gene expression in nasal passages. (Image reproduced from BMJ, JE Gotts, SE Jordt, R McConnell, and R Tarran, 366:l5275, 2019, with permission from BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

Do e-cigarettes cause pulmonary toxicity?

The team grouped research findings by type of study and charted the results. “E-cigarettes will likely prove to have at least some pulmonary toxicity with chronic and possibly even short-term use,” they wrote. They noted the many lines of human, animal, and in vitro experimental evidence of e-cigarette aerosol effects on the physiology of cells and organs, as well as on immune function.

Can nicotine vapor be contaminated?

In addition to vapor itself, residues of nicotine and other chemical s may contaminate surfaces in vaping shops, businesses in the same building, and vapers’ homes, according to one recent report. “These levels build up over time and may represent exposure hazards,” Jordt cautioned.

What are the consequences of vaping?

Vaping has had unintended consequences that include poisoning of children who swallowed liquid nicotine, fires and explosions from defective batteries in the devices, and effects on the developing brain.

Why is vaping so popular?

Vaping devices, introduced to the US market in 2007 as aids for smoking cessation, have become popular among youth and young adults because of their enticing flavors and perceived lack of negative health effects. However, evidence is emerging that vaping may introduce high levels of dangerous chemicals into the body and cause severe lung injury and death. This article reviews the history and prevalence of vaping and available research on its health effects and efficacy in smoking cessation, and proposes recommendations for clinicians and legislators to reduce harms associated with vaping.

What are the chemicals in vape liquid?

Studies of vape liquids consistently confirm the presence of toxic substances in the resulting vape aerosol. 37 – 40 Depending on the combination of flavorings and solvents in a given e-liquid, a variety of chemicals can be detected in the aerosol from various vaping devices. Chemicals that may be detected include known irritants of respiratory mucosa, as well as various carcinogens. The list includes: 1 Organic volatile compounds such as propylene glycol, glycerin, and toluene 2 Aldehydes such as formaldehyde (released when propylene glycol is heated to high temperatures), acetaldehyde, and benzal-dehyde 3 Acetone and acrolein 4 Carcinogenic nitrosamines 5 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons 6 Particulate matter 7 Metals including chromium, cadmium, nickel, and lead; and particles of copper, nickel, and silver have been found in electronic nicotine delivery system aerosol in higher levels than in conventional cigarette smoke. 41

When was Juul invented?

The Juul device (Juul Labs, www.juul.com) was developed in 2015 by 2 Stanford University graduates. Their goal was to produce a more satisfying and cigarette-like vaping experience, specifically by increasing the amount of nicotine delivered while maintaining smooth and pleasant inhalation.

What is an e-cigarette?

E-cigarettes, the most common type of electronic nicotine delivery system, 1 look like conventional cigarettes. Designs vary, but the devices generally contain a power source (typically a lithium battery), a heating element, and a reservoir for the “e-liquid” ( Figure 1 ).

How many vaping deaths in 2019?

As of November 5, 2019, there had been 2,051 cases of vaping-associated lung injury in 49 states (all except Alaska), the District of Columbia, and 1 US territory reported to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with 39 confirmed deaths. 4 The reported cases include respiratory injury including acute eosinophilic pneumonia, organizing pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. 14

Why do people vape?

While smoking cessation and health improvement are cited as reasons for vaping among middle-aged and older adults, adolescents and young adults more often cite flavor, enjoyment, peer use, and curiosity as reasons for use.

What are the components of vaping?

Vaping components include propylene glycol, glycerin, nicotine, and flavors, which contain sucrose, sucralose, and ethyl maltol. The vapor produced by vaping devices is thick and viscous and much of it is retained on oral tissues.

Is vaping bad for your health?

There are also potential serious oral health consequences to vaping. It is likely that the composition of certain vaping solutions may make them more harmful than others CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: It is important that dental professionals are made aware of the potential problems related to vaping.

Does vaping cause caries?

There are over 10 000 different vaping liquids, including some that contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and vitamin E acetate. Vaping clearly has the potential to negatively affect general health, periodontal health, and accelerate the development of caries.

Is vaping a cariogenic drug?

Initial reports show that the effect of e-cigarettes on periodontal tissues is similar to that of conventional cigarettes. Some vaping formulations may be highly cariogenic, especially those with sweet flavor s, which are used to attract young people.

Is vaping a public health issue?

Vaping-induced lung injury has emerged as a public health issue, and this case represents a rare opportunity to evaluate this issue at autopsy. Most commonly, the injury has been attributed to tetrahydrocannabinol product use as opposed to nicotine. This case demonstrates that as today's young and r …

Can vaping cause lung damage?

Conclusions.—: Vaping-induced lung injury has emerged as a public health issue, and this case represents a rare opportunity to evaluate this issue at autopsy. Most commonly, the injury has been attributed to tetrahydrocannabinol product use as opposed to nicotine. This case demonstrates that as today's young and relatively healthy "vapers" grow older and develop the comorbidities that come with advanced age, there is serious risk of chronic lung damage from vaping that could result in death. Further observations and studies, particularly autopsy evidence, are clearly important to understand the possible outcomes.

CDC, FDA & Media Contributed to Regulatory Over-Reactions in Lung Illnesses

AVA Synopsis: The authors examined data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) cases of vaping-related lung injury, the public advice from both the CDC and the U.S.

Flavor Preference Changes to Sweet Flavors Most Pronounced in Long-Term and Exclusive E-Cig Users

Ping Du1 Rebecca Bascom Tongyao Fan Ankita Sinharoy Jessica Yingst Pritish Mondal Jonathan Foulds

Local Flavor Bans May Lead to Increase in Combustible Use

AVA Synopsis: The study sought to assess the impact of flavor bans, specifically San Francisco’s flavored e-cigarette and tobacco product ban, and its effects on young adults, “focusing on the change in the use of menthol cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and cigars.” The study used Amazon Mechanical Turk to formulate a “sample of San Francisco residents aged […].

Flavors in SNUS Important for Former Smokers in Norway

AVA Synopsis: Similar to the increase use of e-cigarettes among youth in the United States, an increase in use of snus by youth in Norway has ignited a debate on banning flavors in snus products. The study sought to analyze “snus use according to smoking status” to compare the “probability” of flavored snus among different […]

Comparative Toxicity Assessment Finds Harm Reduction in E-Cigarettes

AVA Synopsis: The study examined cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic reactions to blu e-cigarettes, including a disposable and a rechargeable device. The authors tested 12 commercial products and compared the results to a reference cigarette, with varying flavors and nicotine strengths.

Why is vaping dangerous for teens?

Vaping by adolescents is a concern because of the risks of nicotine addiction and because of reports of an association between vaping and acute lung injury. This nationally representative survey finds sharp increases in the frequency of vaping among 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-grade students.

What is the new class of e-cigarettes called?

Use of a new e-cigarette product class called “pod mods” is rampant among young people. There is reason to be concerned that adolescents’ use of these products could bring a host of adverse health consequences to the current generation of adolescents and young adults.

How many people died from evali?

This study from the CDC compared the characteristics of 60 patients who died from EVALI with those of 2558 patients who were hospitalized for the condition but survived. The deaths were reported from 27 states and the District of Columbia, and most were associated with vaping THC-containing products before symptom onset.

How many patients died from evali 2019?

Among the 1139 patients with EVALI discharged on or before October 31, 2019, 31 (2.7%) were rehospitalized a median of 4 days after discharge and with half of the events occurring between 2 and 20 days after discharge. Seven patients, five of whom were women, died outside the hospital.

How long does it take to reevaluate after evali?

The clinical guidance urges health care professionals to work with appropriate staff to ensure that all patients discharged after treatment for EVALI are reevaluated at 48 hours, especially those who have been in an ICU, have social support networks in place to monitor their health, to ensure that post-discharge medications, such as glucocorticoids on taper and medications for known comorbid conditions, are taken appropriately, and that they do not resume use of vaping or combustible tobacco.

Is vaping a disease?

E-Cigarettes and Vaping-Related Disease. The use of e-cigarettes has increased rapidly. Although vaping has been shown to assist with smoking cessation, cases of severe vaping-related pulmonary disease and a number of deaths have recently been reported.

Does vaping cause lung injury?

In this study, investigators developed a mouse model of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use– associated lung injury. They showed that in these mice, vitamin E acetate induced lung injury that had many similarities to what has been seen in human cases.

Massive Increase in Vaping

See more on factor.niehs.nih.gov

Multiple Effects on Respiratory, Immune Systems

Second-Hand Vapor, Residues

Crucial Research Needed

Challenges to Study Design