Vaping FAQs

can you get pneumonia from second hand vaping smoke

by Jakob Abernathy Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

Secondhand aerosol from ESDs contains nicotine, ultrafine particles and various other toxins that have been linked to pneumonia and collapsed lungs –among other conditions – according to doctors with Johns Hopkins Medicine. What kind of health risks could secondhand vape smoke pose?

Secondhand smoke can cause respiratory symptoms such as cough, wheezing and shortness of breath. It can also lead to acute lower respiratory infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia.

Full Answer

Can second hand smoke from vaping be harmful?

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. These chemicals can be swallowed, as many children put their hands or other objects into their mouths.

What happens if you breathe second hand vape?

Islam and his research colleagues have found that exposure to secondhand aerosols from e-cigarettes is associated with increased risk of bronchitis symptoms and shortness of breath among young adults, especially among those who don't smoke or vape themselves, the team reported last year in the journal Thorax.

Can my baby get second hand smoke from vaping?

Studies have found that second-hand exposure to vaping can raise nicotine levels in the bloodstream to rates similar to the levels found with second-hand smoke. Many of the e-cigarette chemicals that end up in the air your babies breathe are known to be toxic.

Can you get third hand smoke from vaping?

E-cigarettes have been shown to be a potential source of thirdhand exposure to nicotine [4], and therefore need to be evaluated in the same context as thirdhand cigarette smoking.

Is it safe to vape indoors?

Health harm In contrast to the known harm from secondhand smoke, there's no evidence so far of harm to bystanders from exposure to e-cigarette vapour. The many harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke are either not contained in e-cigarette vapour at all, or are usually found at much lower levels.

Is it safe to vape around toddlers?

It's not safe to use vape pens or e-cigarette devices around kids. The vapor from e-cigarettes has chemicals in it that can be harmful to kids. There's another serious problem with e-smoking devices: Kids can get poisoned if they drink the liquid in nicotine delivery devices or refills.

Can I vape in the same room as my baby?

The bottom line: No amount of vaping around your babies and children is considered safe. So it's important to take the proper precautions to avoid exposure to secondhand vaping and get the help or your partner needs to quit.

How long does vape smoke stay in the air?

Even in a poorly ventilated area with windows shut, any smells from vaping should be gone in only ten minutes or so, instead of lasting around for hours like smoking.

Can I vape in the car with a child?

Should I avoid vaping in a car with children? Most vaping products contain nicotine, so using them in a confined area with anyone under-18 could be harmful and should be avoided if possible. Research has also revealed that using e-cigarettes can be distracting and could become a safety risk.

Does vape smoke stick to clothes?

No, when vaping, the smell does not stick to clothes. The simple and straightforward answer is no, vape does not stick to your clothes. Unlike smoking, which involves burning tobacco and producing strong-smelling smoke, vapours from your e-cigarette do not stick to your clothes if you vape casually and out in the open.

What is 4th hand smoke?

This is exactly what fourth-hand smoke does — watching friends, colleagues, relatives, even actors on screen smoke, makes smoking 'the cool thing'.

How long does it take to recover from secondhand smoke?

After 24 hours, carbon monoxide will be gone from your body. Your lungs will start to clear out unwanted mucus and smoking debris. After 48 hours, food will start to taste better and your sense of smell will improve too. After 72 hours, your breathing will become easier and your energy levels will increase.

Is it OK to breathe vape?

And, while it's safe when taken orally as a supplement or used on the skin, it's likely an irritant when inhaled. It's been found in the lungs of people with severe, vaping-related damage. Other common substances found in e-liquid or produced when it's heated up may also pose a risk to the lungs.

How long does it take for second hand smoke to affect you?

Studies have shown that damage from secondhand smoke occurs in as little as five minutes: After five minutes: Arteries becomes less flexible, just like they do in a person who is smoking a cigarette.

How long do vape chemicals stay in the air?

While particles from conventional cigarette smoke linger in the air for upwards of 45 minutes, researchers found that those stemming from e-vapor products evaporate within seconds, even indoors.

How long does vape smoke stay in the room?

Even in a poorly ventilated area with windows shut, any smells from vaping should be gone in only ten minutes or so, instead of lasting around for hours like smoking.

What is a vaping cartridge?

Vaping cartridges contain oil that is heated with a heating element, which produces a vapor. “Within that vapor, there may be tiny aerosolized droplets of lipids, which can be inhaled,” said Andrew Freeman, MD, a pulmonologist with University of Utah Health. “When large enough amounts of lipid droplets are inhaled into the lungs, ...

How many different types of vapor products are there?

There are 3 different types of vapor products - nicotine, CBD and THC vapor products. You MUST specify which you are talking about because while nicotine vape juices are very well self-regulated and have been around longer, the other 2 have not been around nearly as long and are not very well self-regulated.

Is vaping safer than smoking?

Advocates for vaping say it’s a safer option than smoking. They point out that, with regular cigarettes, users inhale harmful chemicals into their lungs that can cause damage, and that those chemicals are not present in vaping cartridges. However, e-cigarettes have been associated with other acute lung injuries, including a condition called lipoid pneumonia. Vaping cartridges contain oil that is heated with a heating element, which produces a vapor. “Within that vapor, there may be tiny aerosolized droplets of lipids, which can be inhaled,” said Andrew Freeman, MD, a pulmonologist with University of Utah Health. “When large enough amounts of lipid droplets are inhaled into the lungs, they can cause irritation and damage to the lung, leading to the condition termed lipoid pneumonia.”

Can lipids cause lungs to hurt?

Thus, lipid droplets may not be causing irritation or injury to the lungs in all cases, but they are probably there. And the higher burden of lipid, the overall greater chance of developing lipoid pneumonia.”. Symptoms of lipoid pneumonia—chest pain, difficulty breathing, chronic coughing, or even coughing up blood—can be similar ...

Is lipoid pneumonia life threatening?

In those scenarios, the condition is life threatening. Lipoid pneumonia can be fatal, but with the proper medical support and treatment, recovery is also possible. Any time there is a substantial acute injury to the lungs, however, patients may have a permanent decreased lung capacity, even after they have recovered.

Does vaping cause pneumonia?

That’s changing, though, as more people take up vaping, voluntarily introducing lipid particles into their lungs. Of course, that doesn’t mean that everyone who vapes will develop lipoid pneumonia. But they are putting themselves at risk.

Can e-cigarettes cause pneumonia?

The Taiwanese physician noted that in August of 2019 the US had a flurry of lung pneumonias or similar, which the Americans blamed on ‘vaping’ from e-cigarettes, but which, according to the scientist, the symptoms and conditions could not be explained by e-cigarettes.

Why do flavor pods cause pneumonia?

Because of the multiple chemical pollutants and contaminants that are found in the air , it may be hard for doctors to figure out the specific chemical substances that cause chemical pneumonia. The flavor pods designed for e-cigarettes contain a lot of chemical substances that the user ingests when vaping. One of these chemicals is diacetyl.

What are the chemicals in vaping?

The two main liquids that you can find in vaping products are propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine.

What factors contribute to the number of chemicals a vaper is exposed to?

There are factors that contribute to the number of chemicals the vaper is exposed to which include the type of vaping device, device settings, user behavior patterns, battery power, type of e-liquid, and the amount of nicotine. The higher the power and temperature settings of vaping products, the more chemicals they can produce.

How does lipoid pneumonia develop?

This develops when fatty acids get into the lungs. This is brought about by ingesting the oily substances that are found in e-liquid. This starts an inflammatory impact within the lungs. No treatment is intended for lipoid pneumonia besides supportive care for the lungs to heal on their own.

What causes lipoid pneumonia?

Lipoid pneumonia is caused by fatty acids which are the building blocks of fat to enter the lungs. Lipoid pneumonia from vaping is brought about by the inhalation of oily substances that are found in e-juice. This e-liquid is what triggers the inflammatory response in the lungs. Some of its symptoms include shortness of breath, chronic cough, ...

What is the condition where oxygen escapes through a hole in the lung?

Pneumothorax or collapsed lung is another condition wherein a hole occurs in the lung through which oxygen escapes. This may be caused by an injury like a knife stabbing or gunshot. In this condition, the air blisters on the lung’s top rupture and they result in the formation of tiny tears.

Does vaping affect your lungs?

Vaping is certainly not without detriment to one’s lungs. As the use of e-cigarettes continues, experts will have better insights into the effects of vaping on one’s lungs. As of now, it has been linked to several lung diseases. These include popcorn lung, lipoid pneumonia, and pneumothorax. Popcorn lung is bronchiolitis obliterans (OB).

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.

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 many people die from lung cancer from second hand smoke?

In addition, secondhand smoke causes 7,300 lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers every year in the United States. It also is attributed to more than 8,000 deaths from stroke each year.

How many chemicals are in second hand smoke?

Todd A. Mahr, MD: Secondhand smoke is the combination of smoke from the burning end of a cigarette and smoke that is breathed out by smokers. It contains about 7,000 chemicals, of which hundreds are toxic and 70 can cause cancer.

What metals are used in vaping?

Lead, nickel, tin or other heavy metals: they help heat the vaping liquid. Small amounts of these metals can be aerosolized and inhaled.

What is the chemical that irritates the lungs?

Benzene : a colorless, sweet-smelling organic compound that can irritate the lungs (it’s found in car exhaust).

Is second hand smoke dangerous?

There’s no risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure. Even a brief exposure can be harmful to health. Comprehensive smoke-free policies have been really successful in protecting those who don’t smoke.

Can you breathe in an e-cigarette?

A: When you’re around someone who is vaping, it is possible to breathe in the aerosol from the e-cigarette. But there isn’t a lot of published research on how it affects a person’s body.

Can second hand smoke cause respiratory problems?

Secondhand smoke can cause respiratory symptoms such as cough, wheezing and shortness of breath. It can also lead to acute lower respiratory infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia.

How much does second hand smoke affect stroke?

Being exposed to secondhand smoke is estimated to increase your risk of death and disability from stroke by 20% to 30%.

What are the causes of secondhand smoke?

1. Lung cancer. Lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer in the United States, and secondhand smoke is a contributor. Each year more than 7,300 lung cancer deaths are caused by secondhand smoke. 2. Heart disease. Breathing in smoke-filled air harms more than your lungs. Your ticker takes a hit, too.

How many states have no smoke free laws?

BUT, there are still 22 states that lack comprehensive smokefree laws, leaving millions of Americans vulnerable to secondhand smoke and the deadly diseases it causes. 1. Lung cancer. Lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer in the United States, and secondhand smoke is a contributor.

How many babies are affected by second hand smoke?

Each year, secondhand smoke causes between 150,000 and 300,000 infants and toddlers to develop lower respiratory tract illnesses—e.g., bronchitis, those awful coughs that keep parents and baby up at night, and pneumonia. 8. Low-birth-weight babies.

How many people die from second hand smoke?

Breathing in smoke-filled air harms more than your lungs. Your ticker takes a hit, too. Secondhand smoke is responsible for close to 34,000 heart disease deaths in the United States annually – that is more than 20 times the number of people who lost their lives when the Titanic sank.

Is smoking bad for you?

You know smoking is bad for you. But did you know you're still at risk for some serious smoke-related health complications even if you don't light up? Smoking doesn't just affect smokers; it also has an impact on their families, friends, co-workers, neighbors and even strangers who breathe the smoke-filled air.

Is secondhand smoke bad for babies?

Mothers who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at a greater risk of having low-birth-weight babies. Little ones born too small may have health complications such as birth defects and infections. 9. Developing lungs in kids. Your lungs begin developing inside the womb, and continue to develop in childhood.

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