E-cigarettes: toxic metals in smoke

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MunichE-cigarettes are all the rage among smokers - they are considered less harmful than normal glow sticks. US researchers have now found that the e-cigarette vapor contains ten times less carcinogenic substances, but it is far from safe.

For many smokers, the electronic cigarette is the "helper in need". Because if you can't keep your fingers off the glowing stick, the e-cigarette offers a supposedly healthier alternative. In addition, the electric version should also be less of a concern for passive smokers. At least with regard to the numerous carcinogenic substances that a normal cigarette emits into the environment, this is apparently true. This was confirmed by an American research team led by study author Constantinos Sioutas from the University of Southern California. However, the scientists also found out that the vapor of electric cigarettes still contains toxic substances: namely metals.

Nickel and chrome in the smoke

For the research, Sioutas and his colleagues took air samples from various office rooms in which both electric and normal cigarettes were smoked. Then the researchers compared the samples with one another. It was found that the nickel level in rooms where e-cigarettes were smoked was four times higher. The scientists were also able to detect chromium in the smoke from e-cigarettes, a toxic metal that does not appear in conventional cigarettes.

“These metals probably come from the housing of the electronic cigarette,” the researchers conclude. These findings are particularly important for the manufacturers of these housings, as they can reduce the amount of toxic metals in the devices.

The consequences have hardly been researched so far

Although e-cigarettes are considered a real alternative to the conventional glow sticks, research into possible health consequences is still in its infancy. It is clear that the electric version is by no means free from pollutants. The World Health Organization (WHO) therefore recommends in a new report that the sale of e-cigarettes to minors should be banned. Pregnant women are also advised to give up e-cigarettes. The potential dangers of inhaling flavored tobacco substitutes have simply not been researched enough.

Tobacco smoke kills 140,000

In Germany around 140,000 people die every year as a result of smoking. The toxic smoke increases the risk of various cancers many times over, but many cases of respiratory diseases such as COPD and asthma are also due to tobacco smoke. It contains over 4,800 different substances, of which at least 250 are classified as toxic or carcinogenic. (jb)

Sources:

Second-Hand E-Cigarette Smoke: Healthier Than Regular Cigarette Smoke, but Still Contains Some Toxic Elements. University of Southern California (USC). 08/28/2014

Electronic nicotine delivery systems. Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. 07/21/2014

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