Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults
- The use of e-cigarettes is unsafe for kids, teens, and young adults.
- Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s. 1
- E-cigarettes can contain other harmful substances besides nicotine.
- Young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future.
Is vaping safe alternative to smoking near kids?
There is debate about whether vaping is safe around children as an alternative to cigarette smoke, but doctors are urging parents to reconsider embracing this misleading narrative.
Is it safe to vape weed around children?
You know the deal—the whiff of grape or cotton candy can be pleasant…but whether the vaping is coming from a nearby car or passerby, vaping can have serious health impacts on your kids. And if you vape around your children, you are putting them at serious risk for developing them. But it is a fact: it is not safe to do around children and babies.
Is it safe to vape indoors around my kids?
March 15, 2019 It's not safe to use electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), known as vaping or "Juuling," when you're pregnant or around your kids. Yet many parents vape without realizing that it's dangerous, according to two recent studies. Photo credit: iStock.com / amesy
Is it safe to have gun in house with children?
locked by either a password that your children don't know and won't guess, or a key that they cannot access. It is just as safe to have a gun in the house with children as it is to have a knife, an electric appliance, a dog or cat, a baseball bat or a heat source in the house with children.
What to do if you leave a vape cartridge in your bag?
How to tell if a child is exposed to nicotine?
Is it safe to use a vape pen?
Can nicotine cause a child to pass out?
Can kids get sick from vaping?
Can you get poisoned from too much nicotine?
See 3 more
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Can vape smoke hurt toddlers?
It may contain a number of harmful substances, including nicotine.” In a paper in the journal Pediatrics, doctors looked at how nicotine from e-cigarette aerosol may affect children. Reviewing past research, they found that nicotine can harm the nervous, respiratory, immune and cardiovascular systems.
Can you vape around a toddler?
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.
What happens if a toddler inhales vape?
Nicotine poisoning often causes nausea, vomiting, dizziness, tremors (shakiness), and sweating, and can make the heart beat much faster than normal. Severe poisoning can cause seizures. It can even cause death.
Can you vape near a child?
But some health professionals have recommended avoiding vaping around pregnant women, babies and children. Your GP can give you advice about quitting smoking.
Is second hand vaping 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.
Can you get 2nd hand smoke from vaping?
"Aerosols from vaping contain heavy metals and ultrafine particles," Islam said. "If somebody else is vaping in the same area, you're breathing it – those particles are entering your lungs, where they can do damage."
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. When one is vaping outdoors in comparison, the smell from your vape will hardly be noticeable at all and will disappear extremely quickly.
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.
How much nicotine is harmful to a toddler?
The amount in only one cigarette butt is enough to poison a child. Other forms of nicotine are also extremely poisonous: cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, nicotine gum if chewed by a child, nicotine patches if chewed on by a child, and liquid nicotine used for electronic cigarettes.
Does vaping have 3rd hand smoke?
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.
Does vape smoke stay on 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.
How long does vape stay in the air?
However, for e-vapour products the particle concentration returned to background values within a few seconds; for conventional cigarettes it increased with successive puffs, only returning to background levels after 30-45 minutes.
Does vaping have 3rd hand smoke?
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.
Does vape smoke stay on 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.
Vaping around babies | E-Cigarette Forum
Hey all, I have an 8 month old son and I'm wondering what other parents' feedback is re:vaping around babies and children. From my reading, secondhand vapor only has 1/10 the nicotene level of cigarette smoke and as long as you are vaping a good model and good eliquid, no other dangerous chemicals. I am wondering who vapes indoors with their little ones, and how you store your eliquids?
The Dangers of Vaping Around Your Kids - Parents
It’s hard not to take a walk with your kids and get a whiff of a sickly-sweet fume from vaping. You know the deal—the whiff of grape or cotton candy can be pleasant…but whether the vaping is ...
What is vaping?
Vaping is the act of using an e-cigarette — specifically, the inhaling of vapor from e-cigarettes such as JUULs, cig-a-likes, vape pens, personalized vaporizers and mechanical mods. The point of vaping is to deliver nicotine, a particularly addictive drug, to the body.
How to quit smoking?
The good news is you’re not alone. In addition to getting help from your practitioner, family and friends, a number of other resources can support your efforts: 1 A “quit plan”: Create one that includes your reasons for quitting, smoking triggers to avoid and strategies to deal with cravings. (Check out the National Cancer Institute’s Smokefree.gov for more info.) 2 1-800-QUIT-NOW hotline: Get free counseling, advice to create a quit plan and information on local cessation resources. 3 The Smokefree Women website: Offers judgement-free information and resources to help mothers quit all nicotine products, including e-cigarettes. 4 Support groups: Nicotine Anonymous, online support groups and local smoking cessation programs can help. 5 One-on-one or group counseling: Moms who get counseling tend to be more likely to quit and less likely to start smoking again later.
What is Smokefree Women?
The Smokefree Women website: Offers judgement-free information and resources to help mothers quit all nicotine products, including e-cigarettes.
What is the minimum age to buy a cigarette?
In December 2019, the minimum age to buy tobacco products, including cigarettes and e-cigarettes, was raised to 21 — a good thing, since the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warns that any exposure to nicotone, including secondhand exposure from e-cigarettes, may be dangerous for children.
What is a quit plan?
In addition to getting help from your practitioner, family and friends, a number of other resources can support your efforts: A “quit plan”: Create one that includes your reasons for quitting, smoking triggers to avoid and strategies to deal with cravings.
How old do you have to be to buy a vape?
They were first regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2016, some 10 years after they first hit the market. Now, you must be over 21 to buy vaping products, and manufacturers have to apply for permission from the FDA to sell their product and list in detail every ingredient they use plus exactly how it's made.
What is the point of vaping?
The point of vaping is to deliver nicotine, a particularly addictive drug, to the body. Vaping devices can resemble traditional tobacco cigarettes, but many look more like pens or, in the case of JUULs, USB drives.
How do e-cigarettes and cigarettes differ?
Both e-cigarettes and cigarettes contain the drug nicotine, but they differ in how they get the drug to the lungs. “With vaping, the liquid nicotine is heated, aerosolized and inhaled—but with smoking, the tobacco is burned via combustion to form a smoke that is inhaled,” says Dr. Ambler.
What are the chemicals in vape smoke?
And the chemicals found in vape smoke are different from cigarettes. “E-cigarettes commonly contain propylene glycol and glycerol. These substances can decompose to form formaldehyde and acetaldehyde which are known carcinogens,” says Dr. Ambler.
What is vaping in medical terms?
What is vaping? “Vaping is a term used for the use of electronic cigarettes. These are battery operated devices that entered the US market in 2006,” says Cynthia Ambler, MD, pediatrician at Northwestern Medicine. They also go by a ton of different names, brands and designs.
How to protect your kids from vaping?
Plain and simple: if you are a parent that vapes, do not do it near your children. “The best way to protect your children is to never smoke or vape near them,” says Dr. Judy. “Never smoke indoors, in your car, or in places that children spend time.
What are the effects of smoking e-cigarettes?
E- cigarettes have also been reported to cause burns, explosive injuries and chemical injuries.
Is third hand aerosol bad for you?
Because nicotine on surfaces has been shown to be increased after e- cigarette use, thirdhand aerosol is another potentially harmful unintentional source of nicotine exposure for youth .”. And while you may love the flavors that vaping offers, they can also do major damage.
What happens if a child ingests nicotene?
If a child ingests nicotene, it is considered a poisoning.
Is vaping around young children, kids & babies safe?
E-cigarettes or vaping devices are electronic products that heat a liquid to produce a vapour/smoke and were created as nicotine delivery systems just like cigarettes. They come in many shapes and sizes from looking like cigarettes, to USB flash drives (JUUL), to large tank system devices.
What is second hand vaping?
Second-hand vaping or passive vaping is where children breathe in the vape that has been exhaled by the vaper. Third-hand vaping is where the exhaled vape settles on surfaces and is then touched by children. Studies have found that the vape on such surfaces includes nicotine 17.
What is a vaping liquid?
Most of the vaping liquids contain nicotine as well as many other harmful chemicals. Vapour is exhaled by e-cigarette users as part of their vaping.
What happens when you smoke nicotine?
Aside from nicotine the vapour when exhaled contains: 1 Ultrafine particles – these can be inhaled deep into the lungs and may exacerbate conditions such as asthma and emphysema and could lead to a heart attack 3, 4 2 Volatile Organic Compounds – these are created as a by product of heating the vapour and can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches and nausea, and can damage the liver, kidney and nervous system 12 3 Cancer causing toxins – These include Acetaldehyde (MS), Benzene (SS), Cadmium (MS), Formaldehyde (MS,SS), Isoprene (SS), Lead (MS), Nickel (MS), nicotine (MS, SS), N- Nitrosonornicotine (MS, SS), Toluene (MS, SS) 5, 6 4 Propylene Glycol (PG) – Research has shown that heating propylene glycol changes its chemical composition, producing small amounts of propylene oxide, a known cancerous toxin 7 5 Heavy metals – these are known to cause respiratory distress and disease and include nickel, tin and lead 8
How to stop teens from vaping?
In addition, the single biggest factor in stopping teens from vaping or smoking appears to be to raise children in a smoke & vape free home. If the parents smoke or vape it normalises the behaviour in children who particularly when they are young look up to parents as their role models. This increases the likelihood that the child will go on to vape and smoke9. Read more about Teen Vaping
What are the conditions that can be exacerbated by the ultrafine particles exhaled by vapers?
Asthma & emphysema – these can be exacerbated by the ultrafine particles exhaled by vapers 3, 4
Why are kids sucked in to e-cigarettes?
You can imagine how the kids get sucked in. Firstly, the peer pressure to move on to “the real thing” exists already , but more significantly for the simple reason that no e-cigarette will ever deliver nicotine as efficiently as a cigarette. All addicts eventually end up looking for ways to get more of their drug into their bloodstream faster, so it is with nicotine. That’s where cigarettes come in. Sadly, another generation of kids are sliding into the nicotine pit.
Is vaping liquid still sold in childproof containers?
Elizabeth Murray points out, vaping liquid is still sold in childproof containers — and for good reason.
Can you give up smoking cigarettes?
However, the difficulty of giving up smoking cigarettes at all is something that does not go unnoticed or unappreciated — and as Dr. Murray explains, medical professionals are only a phone call or office visit away.
Is vaping safe for kids?
There is debate about whether vaping is safe around children as an alternative to cigarette smoke, but doctors are urging parents to reconsider embracing this misleading narrative.
Can you inhale sticky goo?
As he explained to Today, it’s a “sticky goo” that transforms into an aerosol chemical that anyone around a vaping person can inhale into their lungs, including children.
What Does E-cigarette Vapour Contain?
Most e-liquids contain four main ingredients, Propylene Glycol (PG), Vegetable Glycerine (VG), Food Flavourings (either artificial or natural) and Nicotine (obviously not in the case of 0mg juices).
How much less is nicotine in e-cigarettes than in cigarette smoke?
Nicotine levels in the vapour produced by e-cigarettes are 85% less than in cigarette smoke
How to keep vaping equipment safe?
The best practice is to keep all your vaping equipment safely out of reach from little fingers, ideally under lock and key. Filling of your device should be done when children aren’t around as it’s very easy to leave a bottle unattended or worse, with the lid off, making all too easy for inquisitive hands to get hold off.
Can an infant give consent to vaping?
An infant or child can’t give informed consent as to whether they mind an adult vaping near them. Although it’s undoubtedly safer to inhale vapour rather than smoke, realistically they should be subjected to neither. Even if the risk to a child’s health is negligible, then the only sensible course of action is to vape when they’re not present and can’t inhale the vapour.
Can you vape with people who don't vape?
If your vaping with other adults who also vape then it’s highly unlikely that anyone will object. If you want to use your e-cigarette around people who don’t vape then, most vapers would ask if anyone minds or perhaps move away, so the vapour doesn’t bother the other people.
What is the main ingredient in e-cigarettes?
The e-cigarettes contained and delivered mostly glycerin and/or PG and water
When was the study Comparison of select analytes in aerosol from e-cigarettes with smoke from conventional?
The study named, Comparison of select analytes in aerosol from e-cigarettes with smoke from conventional cigarettes and with ambient air, was carried out and published in 2014. The paper was made freely available, and you can take a look yourself by Clicking Here.
What percentage of dual users have policies banning vaping?
And only 21 percent of dual users had policies banning vaping inside the car. Winickoff hypothesized that parents may ...
Why are e-cigarettes safer in enclosed spaces?
Winickoff hypothesized that parents may view e-cigarettes as safer in enclosed spaces because, “they typically don’t have the foul odor that the cigarettes have and the aerosols become invisible after a few seconds.”
Is thirdhand exposure a long term health risk?
While we don’t yet know what the long-term health risks of thirdhand exposure may be, King pointed out that, “All thirdhand exposure was once secondhand exposure, so if you prevent use in indoor environments, it’s going to reduce those risks.”
Does nicotine affect the prefrontal cortex?
Trusted Source. nicotine use has on the still-developing prefrontal cortex. However, the research into adolescent impacts of nicotine exposure relates to teens who are actually smoking and vaping themselves, but it’s at least possible that exposure in other ways could have similar impacts.
Is it safe to smoke e-cigarettes?
Exposure to e-cigarette vapor isn’t as harmless as you may think. Getty Images. Parents who smoke cigarettes typically don’t light up in enclosed spaces like their cars or their homes with children or infants around. After all, we’ve known for years that secondhand smoke is bad for our health. Trusted Source.
Does smoking cause addiction?
The AAP has released data showing that early use of nicotine is related to increased addiction and a greater difficulty quitting.
Does nicotine cause depression?
He pointed out that previous studies of children and adolescents who use nicotine found that “nicotine exposure can lead to mood disorders, anxiety, and depression. Early exposure to nicotine may prime the brain to make it more susceptible to addiction in adolescence and early adulthood.”
What are the chemicals that can be inhaled deep into the lungs?
Ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs. Flavoring like diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious, irreversible lung disease called obliterative bronchiolitis. So-called volatile organic compounds, or gases emitted into the air that may have adverse health effects. Cancer-causing chemicals.
How does nicotine affect the brain?
Nicotine can impact the developing structure of the brain – altering reward pathways that navigate positive reinforcement in the brain – so that a child becomes more vulnerable, or is at increased risk, for becoming addicted to products that contain nicotine and other drugs in the future.
What are the causes of cancer?
Cancer-causing chemicals. Heavy metals, including nickel, tin and lead. The American Cancer Society notes that the cancer-causing substance formaldehyde, for one, may form "if e-liquid overheats or not enough liquid is reaching the heating element (known as a "dry-puff").". "People don't, I think, always realize that the secondhand smoke emissions ...
Why is quitting smoking the best thing?
Aside from a parent's own health, quitting is best because kids often follow the example of their parents. "Kids whose parents use cigarettes are up to four times more likely to use – to become smokers themselves – during the teenage years," he says.
Does e-cigarette smoke affect lung function?
Animal research shows that exposure to e-cigarette vapor leads to a decrease in the growth of tiny air sacs called alveoli in developing lungs. Based on such findings, while not definitively known since e-cigarettes haven't been on the market for long, exposure to nicotine early on in childhood may mean decreases in lung function, he says. What's more, where secondhand smoke can contribute to higher levels of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, secondhand vaping could possibly lead to problems with attention and hyperactivity as well, he says.
Can you get asthma from vaping?
And a study published in the journal Chest in January 2019 found that teens with asthma who were exposed to secondhand aerosol, without vaping themselves, were more likely to have an asthma attack.
Is second hand smoke bad for you?
Secondhand smoke from traditional cigarettes is known to cause tens of thousands of deaths annually in the U.S., and is implicated in some infant deaths, or sudden infant death syndrome. Likewise, chemicals in e-cigarette aerosol may also contribute to secondhand health problems. "People who are doing the vaping themselves, ...
How much nicotine is in Juul pods?
All JUUL e-cigarettes have a high level of nicotine. According to the manufacturer, a single JUUL pod contains as much nicotine as a pack of 20 regular cigarettes. 2
How do e-cigarettes produce aerosols?
E-cigarettes produce an aerosol by heating a liquid that usually contains nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals that help to make the aerosol. The liquid used in e-cigarettes often contains nicotine and flavorings. This liquid is sometimes called “e-juice,” “e-liquid,” “vape juice,” or “vape liquid.”. Users inhale e-cigarette aerosol ...
How many countries have HTPs?
They are different from e-cigarettes, which heat a liquid that can contain nicotine derived from tobacco. HTPs are available in at least 40 countries and several have been authorized for sale in the United States by the FDA.
How does nicotine affect the brain?
Using nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. 1.
What is a Juul?
JUUL is a brand of e-cigarette that is shaped like a USB flash drive. Like other e-cigarettes, JUUL is a battery-powered device that heats a nicotine-containing liquid to produce an aerosol that is inhaled.
What are the most popular flavors of e-cigarettes in 2020?
5 Among high school students who currently used any type of flavored e-cigarettes in 2020, the most commonly used flavors are fruit (73.1%), mint (55.8%), menthol (37.0%), and candy, desserts , or other sweets (36.4%). 5.
What are the flavors of e-cigarettes?
E-cigarettes come in various flavors, including fruit, candy, mint, and menthol. A study from 2013-2014 showed that most youth who use e-cigarettes first start with a flavored variety, and flavors are the primary reason youth report using e-cigarettes. 6.
What to do if you leave a vape cartridge in your bag?
If you leave a device or cartridge in your bag by mistake, lock it away like you would cleaning products, knives, and other dangerous items. Parents should always keep their e-cigs or vaping devices locked up. But as more and more people vape, there's a chance kids might find the devices or refills.
How to tell if a child is exposed to nicotine?
Call your local poison center (1-800-222-1222) right away if you think a child has been exposed to e-cigarettes and liquid nicotine. Signs of nicotine poisoning include: The child feels sick or is throwing up. The child looks pale. The child is sweating or drooling.
Is it safe to use a vape pen?
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 nicotine cause a child to pass out?
The child has the jitters, is shaky, and has a fast heartbeat. In large enough amounts, nicotine liquid can cause kids to have seizures or pass out. If that happens, call 911 immediately.
Can kids get sick from vaping?
Kids can even get sick if the liquid gets on their skin. Because the candy flavors in many vaping solutions appeal to kids, a child might drink enough liquid to get seriously ill or even die. Your best approach is to leave all vaping supplies at home. That way you can't accidentally put a device or refill where a child might find it.
Can you get poisoned from too much nicotine?
If that happens, call 911 immediately. Even adults can be poisoned from being in contact with too much nicotine liquid. As you use or refill your device, be sure not to get any solution on your skin. When it's time to throw away a device or solution cartridge, follow the disposal instructions on the product label.
