An electronic cigarette is a battery-operated device that emits a vaporized solution for inhalation, usually containing nicotine. The aim is to simulate the sensation of smoking tobacco—without actual smoke.
These devices go by various names, including e-cigarettes, e-hookahs, vapes, vape pens, and others. They come in a range of shapes and sizes, with some resembling USB drives and others looking like pens, for example.
Manufacturers market e-cigarettes as tools to help people quit or reduce smoking, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies them as tobacco products.
Federal law in the United States prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 21. However, the primary concern about vaping is its appeal to youth.
Vaping and Youth
Vaping is especially popular among teenagers. In fact, it's now the most common form of tobacco use among young people in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In 2019, experts linked vaping to a severe lung illness now known as EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping-Associated Lung Injury)
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The Risks of E-Cigarettes
Manufacturers claim that e-cigarettes bypass many of the health risks of smoking tobacco and offer a healthier alternative.
While these devices may help some people quit smoking, growing evidence suggests that e-cigarettes can pose serious health risks—especially to people who have never smoked traditional cigarettes.
Health experts advise against vaping if individuals are:
- Children or teenagers
- Pregnant
- People who have never smoked and are not trying to quit smoking
Here are Seven Reasons Why E-Cigarettes Are Harmful:
- They Usually Contain Nicotine
- Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is dangerous because it:
- Is highly addictive
- Affects brain development, which continues until around age 25
- Can harm a developing fetus during pregnancy
- They Contain Other Toxins
- The American Lung Association lists numerous toxins found in e-cigarettes, including:
- Carcinogens like acetaldehyde and formaldehyde
- Acrolein, a weed killer that can cause irreversible lung damage
- Benzene, a compound found in car exhaust
- Diacetyl, a chemical linked to bronchiolitis obliterans, sometimes called “popcorn lung”
- Propylene glycol, used in antifreeze
- Toxic metals like lead and cadmium
- Ultrafine particles that can enter the lungs
- Many of these are also found in traditional cigarettes.
- Quitting Smoking May Become Harder
- People who switch from regular cigarettes to e-cigarettes may delay seeking medical help or using proven tools for quitting smoking, which can hinder or even prevent them from quitting entirely.
- A 2016 study found that people who currently or previously used e-cigarettes were less likely to quit smoking completely.
- They Cause Secondhand Exposure
- Vaping produces secondhand aerosol. Since e-cigarettes often contain the same chemicals as traditional cigarettes, their emissions may also be toxic to nearby people.
- They May Not Prevent Teen Smoking
- The marketing and flavoring of e-cigarettes can give the impression that vaping is harmless. This perception can lure people—especially teens—into trying it.
- However, early exposure to vaping may increase the likelihood of smoking regular cigarettes later.
- A 2017 study found that teens who used e-cigarettes were more likely to smoke tobacco products in the future compared to their peers.
- They Can Harm the Brain
- In young people, nicotine use can affect the brain’s reward system. Over time, this may make other drug use—such as cocaine—more pleasurable, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
- Nicotine may also impair attention and learning, and increase the risk of mood disorders and impulse control issues.
- Experimental Use May Be Riskier
- Trying different ways to use vaping products may pose additional risks.
- For example, NIDA highlights the practice of "dripping," where users inhale liquid that’s directly dripped onto the device’s heating coil to produce a stronger throat hit. The exact risks of this method are still unclear.
