Vapers: Everything You Need To Know

Vapers or electronic cigarettes are electronic inhalation systems designed to replace and emulate tobacco use. These devices  contain less toxic substances than conventional tobacco, since they do not contain tobacco and there is no combustion.

However, the compounds used to vaporize nicotine and flavors at low temperatures are transformed into some toxic substances that are useful to know.

Let’s go deeper.

How are the vapers?

Vapers are cigarette-like devices made up of three elements:

• Battery.
• The atomizer.
• The cartridge.

The cartridge contains a liquid solution that can contain different substances and is called vaping liquid. The cartridges can be refillable or replaceable, although there are also disposable electronic cigarettes.

What do vape liquids contain?

The main components of the vaping liquid are these:

• Propylene Glycol – Generally around 70%.
• Vegetable glycerin: around 20%.
• Nicotine: it can be found in different doses, between 0 mg and 54 mg / ml.
• Flavors and aromas.

Both glycerin and propylene glycol are not considered toxic when administered orally. However, these liquids can contain chemicals that increase their toxicity. These include the following:

• Alcohol.
• Tobacco essence.
• Menthol.
• Citric acid.
• Butyl Valerate.
• Geranil butyrate.
• Isopentyl hexonate.
• Benzyl benzoate.

Analyzes of different liquids used for vapers have been carried out. Results vary by brand. However, it has been seen that the more ingredients they contain, the greater their toxicity.

Traces of carcinogens typical of classic tobacco have also been found, such as nitrosamines, metals, phenolic compounds and volatile organic compounds. Even, it has been seen that the levels of nickel found are higher than those found in classic tobacco.

The greatest toxicity comes from flavoring compounds such as vanilla and cinmaldehyde. Therefore, the more flavorful the vaping liquids have, the more toxic they are.

How do vapers affect health?

One of the drawbacks of vapers is that their long-term effects are unknown. However, the long-term effects of conventional tobacco are known. These include some such as:

• Cancer .
• Ischemic heart disease.
• Chronic obstructive disease or COPD.
• Chronic bronchitis
• Emphysema.

Vapers produce alterations in lung function, although some of their effects, such as bronchoconstriction, are less than those produced by the classic cigarette.

Propylene Glycol and Glycerol

The propylene glycol present in vaping liquids breaks down at high temperatures. In this way, potentially carcinogenic substances are produced , such as propylene oxide.

On the other hand, glycerol produces acrolein, although to a lesser extent than conventional cigarettes. Both propylene glycol and glycerol also give rise to carcinogenic substances, such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, according to this report from the Scientific Committee of the Spanish Consumer Agency.

Nicotine

In addition to being very addictive, nicotine can affect:

• Brain development in adolescents.
• Memory.
• Concentration.
• Learning.
• Self-control.
• Mood.

Nicotine also causes an increase in heart rate and cotinine levels in the blood.

Are they addictive?

Non-nicotine vapers are not physically addictive. However, addiction has a short-term physical component and a longer-lasting psychological component.

The risk of getting hooked on vapers depends on the use made. It can be used to replace tobacco, to reduce its consumption or simply in a playful way by people who are not smokers.

In relation to the substitution of tobacco, they can maintain the psychological addiction. This is because it does not favor behavior change with respect to the conventional cigarette due to its similarity.

Therefore, vapers, although they help reduce physical withdrawal,  do not promote smoking cessation, according to the Spanish Association against Cancer . For this reason, many consumers chronify its use or combine it with the traditional cigarette, making it difficult to access conventional pharmacological help.

The use of vapers is not a good influence on future smokers, since it could increase tobacco consumption in young people and normalize smoking in general.

Getting rid of this habit is essential

Currently, studies suggest that vapers may be less harmful than conventional cigarettes. However, nicotine, in any of its forms, is highly addictive and the substances in the vapor are carcinogenic.

Therefore, it is best to go to the doctor and consider the option of quitting smoking. It is also important to seek psychological help, to be able to combine the treatment of the doctor with that of a mental health specialist. It will be difficult, but never impossible.