Vaping FAQs

can you get cancer from secondhand vaping

by Roderick Hegmann Jr. Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
image

Along with nicotine, nonvapers are also exposed to ultrafine particles from secondhand vape aerosol, which may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Secondhand vape aerosol also contains several known carcinogens that may increase the risk of certain cancers.

Yes, second and third-hand smoke and vaping aerosols contain harmful, toxic and cancer-causing chemicals that can be breathed in. They can go into the body through the skin.

Full Answer

Does secondhand vape aerosol increase cancer risk?

Secondhand vape aerosol also contains several known carcinogens that may increase the risk of certain cancers. Who’s most at risk? Secondhand vape aerosol affects everyone, but certain groups may have a higher risk for negative health effects.

What is the relationship between vaping and cancer?

As mentioned earlier, the relationship between vaping and cancer is yet to be explored. On top of that, each individual is different, and many factors, such as a combination of smoking and vaping, may increase the chance of getting cancer. However, let’s not forget that secondhand exposure is also risky, especially when it comes to children.

Is secondhand vaping more harmful than tobacco smoke?

Many regulations in Europe have banned e-cigarette use in public places because of the precautionary principle of secondhand vaping. Yet, secondhand exposure to tobacco smoke is thought to be much more harmful than e-vapor and at the origin of heart and lung diseases.

How much does secondhand smoke cause lung cancer?

The Surgeon General estimates that, during 2005-2009, secondhand smoke exposure caused more than 7,300 lung cancer deaths among adult nonsmokers each year (10).

Why are vapes dangerous for children?

What percentage of people with asthma report vaping?

What is third hand smoke?

What is the chemical in second hand vape aerosol?

How to quit smoking cigarettes?

Is vape aerosol harmful?

Does vaping smell like candy?

See 4 more

About this website

image

What is secondhand smoke?

Secondhand smoke (sometimes called passive smoke, environmental tobacco smoke, or involuntary smoke) is a mixture of sidestream smoke (the smoke...

How is secondhand smoke exposure measured?

Secondhand smoke exposure can be measured by testing indoor air for respirable (breathable) suspended particles (particles small enough to reach th...

Does secondhand smoke contain harmful chemicals?

Yes. Many of the harmful chemicals that are in the smoke inhaled by smokers are also found in secondhand smoke ( 1 , 3 , 6 , 7 ), including so...

Does secondhand smoke cause cancer?

Yes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. National Toxicology Program, the U.S. Surgeon General , and the International Agency for R...

What are the other health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke?

Secondhand smoke is associated with disease and premature death in nonsmoking adults and children ( 3 , 7 ). Exposure to secondhand smoke irrita...

How can you protect yourself and your family from secondhand smoke?

The only way to fully protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke is to eliminate smoking in indoor workplaces and public places and by creating smoke...

Do electronic cigarettes emit secondhand smoke?

Electronic cigarettes (also called e-cigarettes, vape pens, vapes, and pod mods) are battery-powered devices designed to heat a liquid, which typic...

What is being done to reduce nonsmokers’ exposure to secondhand smoke?

On the federal level, several policies restricting smoking in public places have been implemented. Federal law prohibits smoking on airline flights...

Mayo Clinic Minute: Secondhand electronic cigarette smoke

Secondhand cigarette smoke is a combination of smoke from the burning end of a cigarette and the smoke breathed out by smokers. Exposure to secondhand smoke has been linked to cardiovascular disease, lung cancer and an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome. But what about exposure to secondhand electronic cigarette smoke? Watch: The Mayo Clinic […]

Can I be Affected by Secondhand Vape Smoke? - A Healthier Michigan

Vape pens and e-cigarettes have become a common sight in the last five to 10 years. We see them used at stores, bars and big events and assume they must be healthier than actual cigarettes.

Is Secondhand Vaping Something to be Concerned About?

By Brianna McCabe. You don’t have to dig deep into a Google search for ‘is secondhand cigarette smoking dangerous?’ to find a scientific study or credible article reinforcing that it is, in fact, a massive risk to your health. …But what about secondhand vaping? According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, 40% of U.S. adults believe that children’s exposure ...

'Secondhand Vaping' Risks Don't Justify Public E-cigarette Restrictions

Evidence confirming the relative safety of vaping continues to build. Multiple studies have now clearly shown that e-cigarette use is far safer than traditional smoking and effective in helping many people give up combustible cigarettes. But what about the secondhand impacts of vaping? A study just published in BMJ Thorax claims that “Secondhand nicotine vape exposure” may be associated ...

What type of cells are affected by vape juice?

For example, one 2018 study examined the effects of common vape juice-flavoring chemicals on monocytes, a type of white blood cell.

What is the FDA's regulation for vaping?

Vaping devices and liquids are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Labeling requirements include a warning if the product contains nicotine.

How does smoking affect your lungs?

Smoking cigarettes and vaping affect the lungs differently. More research is necessary to truly understand their unique effects, though. Cigarettes contain chemicals that irritate and damage tissue in your airways and lungs. The tar in cigarette smoke can also build up in the lungs.

Is vaping a cancer?

There are no documented cancer diagnoses directly linked to vaping or e-cigarette use. However, this remains a difficult question to answer for a few reasons. Not only is vaping a relatively recent phenomenon, people who vape tend to be on the younger side. According to one 2018 study. Trusted Source.

Is popcorn lung dangerous?

Popcorn lung. Other risks. Takeaway. Share on Pinterest. The safety and long-term health effects of using e-cigarettes or other vaping products still aren’t well known. In September 2019, federal and state health authorities began investigating an outbreak of a severe lung disease associated with e-cigarettes and other vaping products.

Does vaping help with cancer?

It depends. If you use vaping as way to avoid or quit smoking cigarettes, vaping actually decreases your overall cancer risk.

Does nicotine cause cancer?

The relationship between nicotine and cancer is a complex one. In general, research suggests nicotine exposure does present a cancer risk.

How does second hand smoking affect the world?

Secondhand smoking kills tens of thousands of people every year in the United States alone. It can cause sudden infant death syndrome and lung issues in children. In adults, it can lead to serious health conditions later in life, such as stroke, heart disease, and lung cancer—even in people who never smoked themselves. 1

How does an e-cigarette work?

E-cigarette devices use metal coils to heat the vaping fluid, and over time, small amounts of metals can sometimes get into the aerosol after repeated use at high temperatures. 6 . While the person vaping will breathe in the full brunt of these toxins, some will be exhaled into the air.

How many states are banning smoking in 2020?

According to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation, as of January 2020, 19 states and over 900 municipalities have included e-cigarettes and other electronic smoking devices in their laws and policies banning smoking in certain environments, such as schools or workplaces. 11 .

Is second hand vaping bad for you?

Secondhand Vaping as a Gateway. In addition to the still uncertain health risks associated with breathing in e-cigarette aerosol, being around people who vape could have other consequences—particularly for adolescents who are more likely to be influenced by social norms and visual cues.

Does vaping hurt your lungs?

Short-term studies didn’t find evidence that secondhand vaping hurts lung function , with one notable exception. Researchers found that people who were around vaping aerosol showed increases in the serum cotinine, which is a marker that someone was exposed to nicotine (an ingredient often found in e-cigarettes). 7  Given the long list of health risks posed by nicotine, more research needs to be done on how this exposure could affect someone’s lungs long-term like it can with secondhand smoke.

Can vaping affect non-vapers?

It’s still not clear how the toxins found in secondhand vaping can affect the health of non-vapers, especially long-term. The limited research available so far has largely focused on immediate health effects. That said, there are some concerns about how repeatedly inhaling e-cigarette aerosol over an extended period of time could affect bystanders’ long-term lung function and risk of allergic reactions.

Can vaping cause lung injury?

UPDATE: Recent illnesses have been associated with use of e-cigarettes (vaping). Since the specific causes of these lung injury cases are not yet known, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends refraining from all vaping products.

Is secondhand exposure dangerous?

However, let’s not forget that secondhand exposure is also risky, especially when it comes to children. Thus, more regulations are needed.

Can e-cigarettes cause popcorn lung?

At the same time, studies show that some chemicals that e-cigs contain, such as diacetyl, may cause popcorn lung, which poses risks of developing a condition that mimics pulmonary cancer.

Does vaping cause lung damage?

Vaping can cause inflammation of the lung cells , and even delicious flavors like banana mousse may cause long-term damages to the body. Researchers at Harvard tested 51 e-liquids and found out that 75% of them contained dangerous ingredients, such as diacetyl.

Does vaping cause cancer?

Many toxic ingredients can cause inflammation of the lungs. Note there are more than 7,000 flavors available. One of the main risks is that vaping emits formaldehyde, which has been associated with cancer.

Is vaping a carcinogen?

The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation, Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis (DPA), reveals that some of the chemicals e-liquids contain may be carcinogenic. One of the dangerous is the vaping emits formaldehyde, which has been associated with cancer.

Is vaping a smoking aid?

However, do not forget that vaporizers are not an official smoking cessation aid. In fact, a wide range of products makes it hard to regulate the market. One of the main concerns expert have is that vaping may cause cancer.

What happens after you inhale a second hand cigarette?

Following inhalation, the user exhales the aerosol ( 12 ). The use of electronic cigarettes results in exposure to secondhand aerosols (rather than secondhand smoke). Secondhand aerosols contain harmful and potentially harmful substances, including nicotine, heavy metals like lead, volatile organic compounds, and cancer-causing agents.

How does secondhand smoke affect the heart?

Exposure to secondhand smoke irritates the airways and has immediate harmful effects on a person’s heart and blood vessels. It increases the risk of heart disease by about 25 to 30% ( 3 ). In the United States, secondhand smoke is estimated to cause nearly 34,000 heart disease deaths each year ( 10 ). Exposure to secondhand smoke also increases the ...

How to teach kids to avoid secondhand smoke?

teaching children to avoid secondhand smoke. seeking out restaurants, bars, and other places that are smokefree (if your state still allows smoking in public areas) protecting your family from secondhand smoke and being a good role model by not smoking or using any other type of tobacco product .

What is secondhand smoke?

Secondhand smoke (sometimes called passive smoke, environmental tobacco smoke, or involuntary smoke) is a mixture of sidestream smoke (the smoke from the burning tip of a cigarette or other smoked tobacco product) and mainstream smoke (smoke exhaled by a smoker that is diluted by the surrounding air) ( 1 – 3 ).

How to protect yourself from secondhand smoke?

Steps you can take to protect yourself and your family include: 1 not allowing smoking in your home 2 not allowing anyone to smoke in your car, even with the windows down 3 making sure the places where your children are cared for are tobacco free 4 teaching children to avoid secondhand smoke 5 seeking out restaurants, bars, and other places that are smokefree (if your state still allows smoking in public areas) 6 protecting your family from secondhand smoke and being a good role model by not smoking or using any other type of tobacco product. For help to quit see smokefree.gov or call 1-877-44U-QUIT.

How to measure secondhand smoke exposure?

Secondhand smoke exposure can be measured by testing indoor air for respirable (breathable) suspended particles (particles small enough to reach the lower airways of the human lung) or individual chemicals such as nicotine or other harmful and potentially harmful constituents of tobacco smoke ( 3, 5 ).

What are the settings of exposure to secondhand smoke?

Major settings of exposure to secondhand smoke include workplaces, public places such as bars, restaurants and recreational settings, and homes ( 4 ). Workplaces and homes are especially important sources of exposure because of the length of time people spend in these settings. The home is a particularly important source ...

Why is e-cigarette smoking banned in Europe?

Yet, secondhand exposure to tobacco smoke is thought to be much more harmful than e-vapor and at the origin of heart and lung diseases. Lung cancers are one of the most documented risks to which smokers are exposed and are also associated to secondhand exposure.

Which NHS trusts have lifted smoking bans?

Two Major health trusts in the UK ( Nottingham University Hospitals and the Scottish NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde) have lifted smoking bans on their grounds, in order to help users wean themselves off tobacco. A sign that a sensible regulation is possible?

Is vaping safer than smoking?

Given that vaping is at least 95% safer than smoking and that harmful including carcinogenic compounds of e-vapor are lower [2] [3] [4] than in cigarette smoke, it is hard to believe in the existence of secondhand vaping. It is also hard to accept that the product may be banned. In agreement with K. Farsalinos’ comment in Slovenia, makes any ban on vaping at least indoor but a fortiori outdoor a abuse of the precautionary principle.

What is secondhand vaping?

Secondhand vaping is exactly what it sounds like: if you're near a person breathing out vapor from an e-cigarette, you generally breathe in the same air that they're exhaling and can inhale the same vapor.

What to do if someone uses e-cigarettes?

If someone close to you, like a parent, caretaker or coworker, uses e-cigarettes, you can kindly ask them to stop while you're around. Frame it as a way to protect both your health and theirs, and hopefully they'll respect your wishes.

Is vaping a health risk?

E-cigarettes can emit a huge cloud of vapor that can affect an entire crowd of people. Getty Images. When vaping first gained popularity, it was marketed as a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes. However, a recent surge in illnesses, hospitalizations -- and even deaths -- has shown that there may be much scarier health risks associated ...

Does vaping harm the lungs?

The vapor can also harm bystanders ' lungs and contribute to lasting damage ...

Does vapor contain nicotine?

Another study from 2018 found that the vapor not only contains nicotine, but also heavy metals, aldehyde and glycerin, even though vaporizer companies try to paint these products as healthier in every way. These chemicals contribute to the health risk posed by secondhand vaping.

Is vaping a teenager phenomenon?

E-cigarettes are becoming more and more of a teenage phenomenon. With more teens than ever now vaping, it seems like the younger folks who are more at risk. A third of high-schoolers and middle-schoolers reported that they were exposed to vaping aerosol in 2018.

Can you vape with your friends?

If you really want to avoid the negative health effects of secondhand vaping, you may just want to not hang out with your friends while they're using e-cigarettes. Or, if you're reading this and you are an e-cigarette user who's not ready to give it up yet, at least don't vape around other people (especially kids).

How does secondhand smoke affect the heart?

For instance, breathing secondhand smoke affects the heart and blood vessels, which increases the risk of having a heart attack. Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of developing and dying from heart disease. It also increases the risk of having (and dying from) a stroke.

Why is secondhand smoke a problem?

Secondhand smoke (SHS) has the same harmful chemicals that people who smoke inhale. There’s no safe level of exposure for secondhand smoke (SHS).

What can be done about secondhand smoke?

Many US local and state governments, and even federal governments in some other countries, have decided that protecting the health of employees and others in public places is of the utmost importance and have passed clean indoor air laws. Although the laws vary from place to place, they are becoming more common. Detailed information on smoking restrictions in each state is available from the American Lung Association.

Is exposure to secondhand e-cigarette aerosol harmful?

As e-cigarettes and similar devices have become more popular in recent years, a growing concern is whether the aerosol of tiny particles exhaled by users, sometimes referred to as secondhand vapor, is harmful to other people who breathe it in.

What is third hand smoke?

Even though it’s no longer in the form of smoke, researchers often call this thirdhand smoke (THS) or residual tobacco smoke . Particles that settle out from tobacco smoke have been shown to combine with gases in the air to form cancer-causing compounds that settle onto surfaces.

How to protect non smokers from SHS?

The only way to fully protect non-smokers from exposure to SHS indoors is to prohibit all smoking in that indoor space or building. Separating smokers from non-smokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot keep non-smokers from being exposed to SHS.

Can SHS cause cancer?

It has more than 7,000 chemicals, including at least 70 that can cause cancer. SHS causes lung cancer, even in people who have never smoked. There’s also some evidence suggesting it might be linked in adults to cancers of the: Larynx (voice box) Nasopharynx (the part of the throat behind the nose) Nasal sinuses.

What to do if you are unhappy with second hand vaping?

If you’re unhappy with secondhand vaping at local restaurants, parks, or other public places, speak up. Ask places you frequent to make their facilities smoke-free, and if you're somewhere that's supposed to be a no smoking zone but patrons aren't following suit, tell someone in a position of authority. And if you're exposed to secondhand vape because someone you love smokes or vapes, talk to them about quitting. (Get the conversation stated with these tips from NoButts.org .)

How many people die from second hand smoke?

The dangers of secondhand cigarette smoke—in your home and outdoors—are well-established: It kills over 41,000 non-smoking adults in the U.S. every year, according to a Surgeon General report. And secondhand marijuana smoke contains many of the same cancer-causing substances and toxic chemicals as secondhand tobacco smoke (like ammonia and hydrogen cyanide), according to research published in the journal Chemical Research in Toxicology.

How much has the use of vapes increased in the past year?

The usage of these electronic smoking devices—AKA e-cigarettes or vapes— has skyrocketed in the past year or so. Among high school teens, for example, there’s been a 78 percent increase in vape usage between 2017 and 2018, a report by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found. And there’s reason to be concerned even if you’re not vaping: Just like cigarettes, e-cigarettes (whether they contain nicotine, marijuana, or something else) emit toxic secondhand aerosol.

How long does it take to understand the dangers of second hand smoke?

It took decades for people to fully understand the dangers of secondhand cigarette smoke; hopefully, it won’t take as long to realize just how dangerous all types of secondhand smoke can be.

How many brands of e-cigarettes are there?

Research on the impact of secondhand aerosol inhalation is still in development, and it doesn’t help that there are over 460 brands of e-cigarettes on the market. “Because these are not regulated, we don’t know exactly what chemicals are even in each kind,” says Dr. Rich.

What are the chemicals in e-cigarettes?

In fact, at least 10 chemicals identified in the aerosol emitted by e-cigarettes are on California’s Proposition 65 list of carcinogens and reproductive toxins, including nicotine, formaldehyde, lead, and toluene (a compound associated with paint thinners). Further, there might be dangers we're still not aware of.

When did California ban smoking?

In 1995 California was the first state to ban smoking in the workplace, and has been a major player in leading the charge against protecting residents and visitors from harms of secondhand smoke through an array of smoking bans that include everything from e-cigarettes and cigarettes to marijuana and hookah.

Why are vapes dangerous for children?

Infants and children. Vape aerosols pose an especially high risk for infants and children because of their lower body weight and developing respiratory systems. , being exposed to even low concentrations of the components of vape aerosol can affect brain and lung development.

What percentage of people with asthma report vaping?

Based on the results of the 2018 Annual Asthma Survey by the Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation Partnership, 14 percent of people with asthma reported that vaping or exposure to secondhand vape triggered their asthma symptoms.

What is third hand smoke?

Thirdhand exposure is a thing, too. When someone who’s vaping exhales, the components of the aerosol doesn’t just go into the air — they also settle on surfaces. Trusted Source. . This is what’s referred to as thirdhand smoke (or aerosol). You can be exposed to these components when you touch a contaminated surface.

What is the chemical in second hand vape aerosol?

Secondhand vape aerosol contains flavorings, such as diacetyl, a chemical that may impair the function of cilia in the airway.

How to quit smoking cigarettes?

Try to taper your nicotine dose gradually if you’re using vaping to help you quit traditional cigarettes. Cutting out nicotine altogether will minimize the risk of nicotine-related side effects for you and others.

Is vape aerosol harmful?

Its long-term effects are still being investigated. What we do know so far is that vape aerosol contains a number of harmful substances, including: There’s evidence that nonsmokers exposed to secondhand vape aerosol absorb similar levels of nicotine as people exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke.

Does vaping smell like candy?

This brief exposure probably isn’t a huge deal, but secondhand vape aerosol (the “smoke” from vaping) is definitely a thing, even if it smells like candy.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9