Daily Life Health

Is Secondhand Vape Harmful to Your Health? Experts Weigh In

Secondhand smoke from cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and cigars contains toxic chemicals that can harm anyone inhaling it. It includes babies, children, and pregnant women.

Vaping also releases nicotine, a highly addictive substance that can affect concentration and brain development in children. It can increase their risk of addiction to other drugs, as well.

Nicotine

Nicotine is the addictive drug found in most e-cigarettes and has been linked to numerous health problems. It is a powerful psychiatric and neurological agent that changes how your brain functions and can cause addiction.

It can also increase your heart rate and blood pressure, leading to other health complications. Nicotine is a known risk factor for many chronic diseases, including vascular disease.

However, it is essential to note that vape vapor contains much less of these toxicants than tobacco smoke does. Furthermore, even though vaporizers can emit minimal amounts of secondhand toxins, avoiding using them around other people, especially children, are essential.

Another secondhand vape side effects is that it can irritate airways and trigger allergic reactions, especially in kids. It is likely the case, but there is not enough research on it yet to say that e-cigarettes are harmful to kids in the long term.

Although we have not studied the effects of secondhand vape on young people, it is essential to remember that e-cigarettes are still dangerous for them and can cause many health issues. They may also lead to smoking, which is very bad for you and can significantly impact your long-term health. It is best to avoid e-cigarettes altogether or at least limit them to your home and car.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a chemical used to make many products, including paper, plastics, and wood. It is also an ingredient in some foods and medicines.

Formaldehyde can cause cancer and other harmful effects in the long term. It can also irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. It can make the ears itch and feel burning or itchy, and it can cause breathing problems, such as wheezing or asthma attacks.

Some studies show that formaldehyde may increase the risk of nasopharynx cancers, which is the upper part of the throat behind the nose. It can also damage DNA in the cells of the lungs and other organs.

The International Agency supports these findings for Research on Cancer (IARC), which identifies formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen. IARC states that there is sufficient evidence in humans and experimental animals that exposure to high levels of formaldehyde causes nasopharyngeal cancer.

To reduce the amount of formaldehyde in your home, you can air out new furniture and pressed-wood products for several days before you use them. You can also avoid smoking indoors.

Other ways to lower your formaldehyde exposure include ventilation in your home, reducing the heat and humidity, and controlling combustion sources. You can do these things by opening windows, using fans, or bringing in fresh air through a central ventilation system (such as a furnace air exchanger).

Heavy Metals

When you are near someone who uses an e-cigarette, you can breathe in the aerosol exhaled by the vaper. This aerosol contains chemicals like nicotine, which can lead to lung cancer and other health problems.

However, these vapors contain metals like chromium, nickel, and copper. These are toxic and linked to gastrointestinal problems, respiratory distress, and lung cancer.

Moreover, heavy metals can affect people’s thinking and behavior, causing behavioral changes and even neurological problems (Cicero et al., 2017; Sussulini & Hauser-Davis, 2018). An e-cigarette can expose you to these toxic metals in large amounts, potentially causing severe health effects.

These findings may lead the FDA to regulate the e-cigarette industry and protect vapers from toxic metals that could cause harm to their health. However, until that happens, we must take precautions to prevent exposure and minimize risks to the public.

We systematically reviewed studies that measured metal/metalloid levels in e-liquids used in ENDS (bottle, cartridge, tank, and open wick), in e-cigarette aerosols from cig-a-like and tank devices, and human biosamples such as urine, saliva, and serum. This approach allows us to assess metal/metalloid levels across e-cigarette device systems to understand better the impact of ENDS on metal/metalloid internal exposure.

Benzene

Benzene is a chemical that occurs naturally and is also used in a wide range of products. It is a common ingredient in solvents, paints, and coatings.

It can be found in gasoline fumes, smoke from tobacco, and many industrial products. Inhaling benzene can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat and cause drowsiness or dizziness. It can also affect the immune system, changing the level of antibodies in the blood and causing the loss of white blood cells.

Long-term exposure can lead to serious health problems, such as cancer. Studies have linked benzene to leukemia and other blood-related cancers.

In 2015, a study of Norwegian oil rig workers found that even low-level exposure to benzene was associated with an increased risk for acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

A 2014 review of studies on the relationship between benzene and leukemia suggested that leukemia could arise due to benzene’s effects on chromosomes in the bone marrow. However, more research is needed to find out if this is true.

Inhaling benzene can cause health problems, including drowsiness, nausea, and headaches. It can also damage the nervous system, causing tremors and confusion. It can also cause vomiting and stomach irritation and change the levels of antibodies in the blood. It can also cause anemia, meaning a person has a low red blood cell count.

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