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Debate on the pros and cons of e-cigarettes: better than cigarettes and free of secondhand smoke vs smoking teens and smoking entrance

Debate on the pros and cons of e-cigarettes: better than cigarettes and free of secondhand smoke vs smoking teens and smoking entrance

2022-08-05

The British Weekly published a debate article on the advantages and disadvantages of e-cigarettes, detailing the advantages and disadvantages of e-cigarettes. The following is the full text:


In the nearly 20 years since the electronic cigarette device was first invented, many smokers and non-smokers have started using e-cigarettes.


Pros and cons of a total smoking ban


The range of vaping devices now offered has greatly expanded. Pens, cartridges and disposable e-cigarettes are all common, often available in a variety of flavors, and they can be cheaper than smoking.


But some health experts warn that little is known about the harmful effects of vaping.


Consultant paediatric chest physician Professor Andrew Bush told the Guardian last month he feared the UK could be entering a public health catastrophe as nicotine addiction increased among young vapers.


Below are some of the main arguments for and against the use of e-cigarettes.


1. Advantages: better than cigarettes


E-cigarettes do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, two of the most harmful elements inhaled in tobacco smoke, the NHS said. For smokers, switching to e-cigarettes improved blood vessel health, as well as lung function in asthmatics, the study found.


In 2015, Public Health England (PHE) said that vaping was estimated to be around 95% less harmful than smoking. PHE will publish a review of the evidence on the safety of e-cigarettes this year.


2. Disadvantages: harmful substances


"No one is claiming that e-cigarettes are completely risk-free," said Caitlin Notley, senior lecturer at The Conversation, and research associate Konstantinos Farsalinos. "E-cigarettes do not contain tobacco, but many contain nicotine (the addictive substance in cigarettes and cigars) as well as other toxins."


E-cigarettes also don't produce vapor, as many believe, but an aerosol composed of tiny particles, the American Cancer Society said.


"Inhaling anything into the lungs may cause changes in DNA," the authors of The Conversation continue, which may increase the risk of future disease.


3. Advantages: Helps with addiction recovery


Smokers are often physically dependent on nicotine and may experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms and cravings if they try to quit, Notley and Farsalinos said.


According to PHE, the use of e-cigarettes had the highest quit success rates between 2019 and 2020, at around 60% to 74%.


Cancer Research UK says e-cigarettes, combined with behavioural support from smoking cessation services, have been found to help people quit smoking effectively.


4. Disadvantage: Attracts teenagers


The sale of e-cigarettes to anyone under 18 is illegal in the UK, but the BBC said it was aware of an increase in complaints about illegal e-cigarettes.


A survey by YouGov for the charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) found that by 2022, 7% of 11- to 17-year-olds reported vaping, up from 4% in 2020.


The BBC says brightly coloured and sweet-smelling vaping devices are becoming increasingly popular with teenagers, with some secondary school teachers saying it has become a problem for pupils. ASH's findings show that 21% of young smokers use e-cigarettes because they like the taste of e-cigarettes.


In June, the European Union proposed a ban on products offering vaping devices in flavors such as bubblegum, strawberry and popcorn, which could lure people into vaping.


5. Advantages: No second-hand smoke


Unlike smoking, there is no evidence that vaping will harm those around you, the NHS said.


However, the World Health Organization warns that aerosols produced by e-cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery systems can raise concentrations of particulate matter in indoor spaces, which contain nicotine and other potentially harmful substances.


"Secondhand e-cigarettes may not seem like a big deal, but don't let the sweet aroma fool you," Healthline said. The website recommends using e-cigarettes outdoors and away from high-risk groups, including pregnant women and people with lung conditions, to reduce potential health risks.


6. Disadvantages: will lead to smoking


A review published this year by the Australian National University found that non-smokers are three times more likely to smoke if they use e-cigarettes, compared to non-smokers.


"This is the dream of tobacco companies and their retail allies," senior lecturer Paul Grogan and respiratory medicine professor Guy Marks wrote in The Conversation.


A previous nationally representative study in the United States came to similar conclusions. Research published by the JAMA Network in 2019 found that young people who vaped were four times more likely to continue smoking compared to young people who had never vaped.


However, Cancer Research UK said there was no strong evidence of an entry effect in the UK.


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