From May 1, the state banned the sale of e-cigarette products to minors, and also banned the sale of flavored e-cigarettes other than tobacco flavors.

Did you know that e-cigarettes were born with the aura of "helping to quit smoking" and "harmless substitutes for cigarettes".

Before talking about electronic cigarettes, let's first understand the harm of cigarettes:

It is often said that the dangers of cigarettes, and their addictive magic, stem from the chemicals they produce when burned. The nicotine produced by the burning of cigarettes can release catecholamines in the human body, resulting in increased heart rate and blood pressure, resulting in a feeling of excitement. This stimulant effect is the magic of cigarettes. Cigarettes are difficult to quit and mainly because nicotine is addictive.

But nicotine is not a carcinogen. In 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that nicotine has no direct causal relationship with cancer. Even in the latest list of carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) under the World Health Organization, nicotine is not even the last class 4 carcinogen.

The most direct harm of cigarettes to the human body is not nicotine, but carcinogenic tar. Because cigarettes burn, in addition to nicotine and water vapor, they will also produce thousands of different substances including smoke tar, carbon monoxide, aldehydes, nitrosamines, and organic acids. Tar not only discolors fingers and teeth, but also accelerates the aging of human blood vessels, leading to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and lung cancer.

Therefore, like filter cigarettes and low-tar cigarettes, people want to reduce the harm caused by tar while retaining the stimulation of nicotine, so electronic cigarettes are born in need.

Electronic cigarettes are mainly composed of four parts: e-liquid (including nicotine, flavor, solvent propylene glycol, etc.), heating system, power supply and filter. Through electronic heating, the e-liquid is converted into a chemical mixture of vaporization, that is, aerosols are sent to the respiratory system. Therefore, it is also called "electronic nicotine delivery system". At the same time, smoking addiction is gradually reduced by adding less nicotine.

The ideal is full, but the reality is very skinny:

1. Higher nicotine content

At present, the nicotine content of electronic cigarettes on the market ranges from 0 to 36 mg/mL, and the maximum content of 36 mg/mL is equivalent to three times the nicotine content of a traditional cigarette. Some e-cigarettes even contain far more nicotine than the label. Smoking e-cigarettes will only increase your addiction!

Although nicotine is not carcinogenic, it still has an impact on health. It stimulates peripheral vasoconstriction, increases heart rate, blood pressure and breathing, and significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and stroke.

2. Other toxic emissions

The aerosols released by e-cigarettes after heating can produce carcinogens such as formaldehyde, nicotine, nitrosamines, and benzene. Long-term inhalation will cause adverse effects on the lungs. The 2,3-butanedione in the aerosol can aggravate the inflammation of the respiratory tract, and in severe cases, it can block all the small airways and form "popcorn lung".

3. Second-hand emissions

Secondhand smoke from e-cigarettes can also be dangerous to health. E-cigarettes also release inhalable liquid fine and ultrafine particles, nicotine and carcinogens indoors.

4. Various additives

At present, there are as many as 8,000 flavoring agents in various electronic cigarettes, and only a few of them have passed strict inspections. Some fragrances such as menthol, although safe for use in food and cosmetics, are not known to be safe after entering the respiratory system. All kinds of spices and flavorings have many flavors and novel smells. It is difficult for old smokers to resist the temptation, not to mention those young people with poor judgment and pursuit of freshness.

The National Health and Health Commission released the "China Smoking Harmful Health Report 2020", which pointed out that "there is sufficient evidence to show that e-cigarettes are unsafe and will cause health hazards. For adolescents, e-cigarettes will affect the physical and mental health and growth of adolescents. cause adverse consequences and induce youth to use cigarettes”

In this regard, the state has issued relevant control policies. On March 11, 2022, the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration issued the "Measures for the Administration of Electronic Cigarettes", which will take effect on May 1, 2022. Among them, it is proposed to prohibit the sale of e-cigarette products to minors, and also prohibit the sale of flavored e-cigarettes other than tobacco flavors.