Are the dangers of vaping underestimated?

Vape, a product that was once regarded by many consumers as a smoking cessation tool or a healthy alternative, has seen its safety issues gradually surface in recent years. Although marketing often emphasizes that it is less harmful than traditional cigarettes, a growing number of scientific studies indicate that the health risks of vapes may be greatly underestimated.

Looking back at the health incidents related to vape in recent years, it is not difficult to find that the harm caused by it is not accidental. In 2019, a series of severe lung disease cases among teenagers caused by vape use broke out in many states in the United States. This incident is called vape-associated lung injury (EVALI). Symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath and fatigue are common among patients, and some cases even lead to death. After research, scientists found that these cases are likely related to the addition of vitamin E acetate to e-liquid containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but the real pathogenic mechanism is still being explored in depth.

The reason why vape gives people the illusion of safety is largely because it does not produce the smoke produced by burning tobacco. However, that doesn’t mean vaping is harmless. On the contrary, e-liquid contains a wide variety of chemicals, many of which are harmful to the human body. In addition to the ubiquitous nicotine, the vapor produced by a vape may also contain ultra-fine particles, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals and other harmful substances. These substances can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause direct damage to the respiratory system. Long-term inhalation may also increase the risk of cancer.

Research in the scientific community continues to confirm the potential harm of vape. A study on the respiratory system of vape users found that vape aerosols can increase the production of respiratory inflammatory factors, leading to chronic inflammation of the airways, thereby reducing human lung function. In addition, multiple studies have shown that teenagers who use vapes have significantly higher rates of respiratory diseases such as asthma than their peers who do not use vapes.

What’s even more worrying is that vape’s diverse flavors have attracted a large number of teenagers to try it. The interaction between the flavorings used in these flavored vapes and the vape solvent can produce strong cytotoxicity, causing damage to lung cells. At the same time, the nicotine in vape can also cause dependence on the human body, causing people who originally intended to quit smoking to fall deeper into tobacco addiction.

It is worth noting that although the dangers of vaping are gradually being revealed, there is currently no conclusive evidence that vaping can reduce the risk of tobacco-related diseases. Conversely, some studies even indicate that vaping may increase your risk of cancer. Chemicals in vapes cause DNA damage in the lungs and bladder and inhibit DNA repair mechanisms, increasing the likelihood of cancer with long-term exposure.

Faced with the rapid popularity of vape, public health experts have called on the government to intervene as soon as possible. This includes increased regulation of the vape market, restrictions on their sale and use, and especially protective measures for teenagers. In addition, the public also needs to be more vigilant, understand the real dangers of vaping, and avoid blindly pursuing so-called "healthy alternatives."

To sum up, the harm of vape cannot be ignored, and its potential threat to human health may far exceed our current knowledge. While enjoying the convenience brought by technology, we should also pay attention to the safety risks behind it and protect our health together.

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