Are E-Cigarettes Safe? People have been smoking for many years and now know the risks that comes with smoking. These risks include chronic lung disease and cancer. Many people continue to smoke despite these risks. One reason may be because of the addictive nature of cigarettes. Conscious of the health risks, some are trying to find ways to either continue smoking without putting their health on the line or quit smoking all together. Manufacturers have taken advantage of this situation and created a new type of cigarettes that is taking over the smoking industry quickly. These new cigarettes are called electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes or ECs. ECs have become very popular and are thought to have brought back the chic of smoking …show more content…
In traditional cigarettes there are "more than 4000 chemicals and carcinogens present in tobacco smoke. Most are emanated by the combustion process," (Farsalinos 67). The combustion process is when the end of a cigarette is lit, a heat reaction is triggered . The heat then burns the tobacco which releases the hazardous chemicals. The user then inhales the chemicals into their lungs. It is because of the combustion process that the chemicals can harm the lungs. E-Cigarettes have been labeled "safer" and "risk free", which is far from the truth. ECs do not use the combustion process. However, ECs still contain one of the same chemicals as in cigarettes. It is an alkaloid poison called nicotine that is sometimes used as an insecticide. Nicotine is highly addictive when smoked. Trying to quit nicotine causes withdrawal problems such as depression, anxiety, and fatigue (Meister 111). Also, although nicotine does not does not cause lung cancer, it does cause lung inflammation which can make breathing difficult. There also are traces of carcinogens, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and toxic metals in ECs and vaporizers. Most people know that formaldehyde causes cancer, and only some know that it is used to preserve dead frogs. Both carcinogens and acetaldehyde are capable of causing cancer. Not only that, but having any amount of metal in your body, especially your lungs, is very unhealthy. When used in large amounts, these chemicals can in fact cause