Study- E-Cigs May Affect Lungs
A new study indicates that E-cigarettes, which have been marketed as a safer alternative to traditional tobacco-based products, may adversely affect a user’s lungs.
New research from the Center for Global Tobacco Control at the Harvard School of Public Health shows that after five minutes of puffing on an electronic cigarette, user’s lungs showed blockage. Details of the study were recently published in an article on msnbc.com. Many scientists, including those at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are doubtful about the safety and health risks of these e-cigs.
Electronic Cigarettes Study
During the study, researchers from the Center for Global Tobacco Control at the Harvard School of Public Health gave 30 healthy smokers e-cigs to analyze affects. After five minutes, the users demonstrated considerable air constriction. The implication is that if there is constriction after five minutes, there could be major effects in the long run.
“E-cigarettes” are meant to substitute the harsh toxins in regular cigarettes by allowing smokers to inhale their daily dose of nicotine as steam through the device; they have been advertised as safer than actual cigarettes.
The Debate over E-Cigarettes
In Defense of E-Cigarettes
The CEO of E-cigarettes defends the products by stating that e-cigs:
- Are not being burned.
- Do not contain dangerous unknown chemicals.
- Get rid of second and third-hand smoke (particles found on clothes, furniture, and other places).
- Have five main ingredients that are FDA approved (nicotine, water, propylene glycol, glycerol, and flavoring).
The FDA on E-Cigarettes
- The FDA’s website states that the product may contain harmful ingredients and other unsafe substances.
- The FDA also warns that these products may be attractive to young people and may lead kids to try other tobacco products, including conventional cigarettes, which are known to cause disease and lead to premature death.
Study Researchers on E-Cigarettes
- The lead researcher of the E-Cigarettes study says that chemicals found in these products are responsible for the lung constriction.
- He also stated that if the E-cigs do help users quit smoking (which is currently unknown), then the short-term effects may not matter.
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