Are E-Cigs Safer?

You've probably seen more and more people puffing away at those electronic cigarettes lately. And as a concept they're great- smokers weaning themselves off of the real thing with this supposedly safer alternative. But are they really any better? Trace has the lowdown on E-Cigs.

Read More:
How Electronic Cigarettes Work
"Electronic cigarettes, also known as smokeless cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or e-cigs, are an alternative method of consuming nicotine, the addictive chemical found in tobacco. Manufacturers often design e-cigarettes to look like regular cigarettes, but they contain no tobacco and don't require a match -- or any flame at all."

Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation: a randomised controlled trial
" Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) can deliver nicotine and mitigate tobacco withdrawal and are used by many smokers to assist quit attempts. We investigated whether e-cigarettes are more effective than nicotine patches at helping smokers to quit."

Electronic cigarettes growing in popularity with teens
"E-cigarette use by teenagers has doubled since 2011. Health experts say the devices are being marketed to youths, putting them at risk for addiction to nicotine and regular cigarettes."

E-cigarettes contain chemicals that make some 'as harmful as normal tobacco
"Electronic cigarettes contain carcinogenic chemicals that make some as harmful as normal tobacco, a new French study has claimed."

E-cigarettes still contain carcinogens, pose health risks, study says
"E-cigarettes, or electronic cigarettes that vaporize liquid nicotine, are marketed as a healthier alternative to the real thing because they don't contain tobacco. But a new report from France's National Consumer Institute has echoed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's previous concerns about so-called 'vaping.'"

Report: e-cigarettes are 'potentially carcinogenic'
"Electronic cigarettes are "not as safe" as their manufacturers make them out to be and they are 'potentially carcinogenic', according to a report by a French consumer association which may worry France's one million e-cigarette users."

Study: E-cigarettes work as well as patches to help smokers quit
"Smokers who switch to electronic cigarettes to try to kick their habit are at least as likely as users of nicotine patches to succeed in quitting or cutting back, according to research published Sunday in the British medical journal The Lancet."

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[KodiakGamingOfficial]

Smoking ecigs was the biggest mistake of my life, at first it was just fun and games, until one day with my ecig clan, there was marijuana involved, we began to inject many marijuanas into our arms, then we proceeded to drink gallons of crack cocaine. Then I died. Take it as a lesson kids, ecigs are dangerous, and a gateway drug.

[JustinHuman]

My wife smoked for 30+ years. About 2 years ago, she switched to Green Smoke E-cigs. While I wish she could just quit, being an ex-smoker myself, I know it's not that simple. She had high blood pressure, early warning signs of COPD, and a nasty smoker's cough. Now, her blood pressure is perfect, COPD symptoms gone, and the cough is completely gone. That's all  proof to me that this particular product is better than regular cigarettes.  Her favorite part is that she doesn't smell like an ashtray anymore.  She actually gets nauseated when she smells a smoker walk by.

[Seeker]

You've probably seen more and more people puffing away at those electronic cigarettes lately. And as a concept they're great- smokers weaning themselves off of the real thing with this supposedly safer alternative. But are they really any better? Trace has the lowdown on E-Cigs. 

Are E-Cigs Safer?

[gmill]

I am sitting here smoking my e cig right now and because of it I have not smoked a regular cigarette in a couple weeks.  I know these are not 100% safe but it absolutely has to be much safer than traditional cigs.

[Andrath]

Going on day 7 without smoking sigarettes because of these. And you know what? I can breathe again. No more wheezing, and (at least my wife claims) no more snoring. I start to smell a lot more too (which might not be that beneficial).

As for the contents of these things? Propylene Glycol, Glycerine, food flavourings and optionally nicotine (which replaces some of the vegetable glycerine). Yes, I do have nicotine in my vapes. I will probably decrease the amount in a couple of months. Not sure if I might go completely nic free eventually, but I just might. Anyway, all that stuff is not burnt, but vaporized.

The study mentioned about formaldehyde is a smear. The researcher later admitted that the e-cigs he used were faulty and were pushed to extremes not recommended for regular use. Vapers don't do that. Running a coil too hot and burning the liquid will foul the taste something aweful. I call bullshit there.

[neo-soul]

I've tried it a few times, it's cool, and it is not addictive. Good thing also is that it smells good, tastes good, and the vapor goes away quickly when trying to fan it away.

[Singleraxis]

It's not dangerous... unless the goverment is making less money. (:

[noxington]

"there's no law saying vapes cant be sold to children."
I almost put my fucking fist through my computer screen when I i heard that.

[btrtaz]

Most people don't do their homework when testing new products. When I started "Vaping", I looked up as many E-cig companies that I could find and all the compounds used in making the E-liquid for (with and without nicotine). All the Information is out there for people to find. I starting vaping in Dec of 2012. I told myself that I was going to try and stop smoking regular cigarettes. Jan 3rd 2013 was my last "Analog" cigarette. I had fully switched over to vaping. What most people don't realize, is that you can step down the level of nicotine in the E-liquids. So much so, that you could use the device as a nicotine quitting tool. When I found out how to make the E-liquid for myself and haven't look back. I have had no nicotine since March of 2013. When I make the E-Liquids for myself and some friend I only use the following FDA approved Items. Food Flavorings,   Food Grade Kosher Vegetable Glycerin and Food Grade Kosher Propylene Glycol and that's it.  
I personally would recommend it to the whole world.

[dnj]

1. Vaping is far safer than smoking in terms of cancer risk. They're incomparable, there isn't even a question.
2. Vaping may be riskier in terms of nicotine overdosing if you're a previous heavy smoker trying to switch to e-cigs, as you may have bad self-regulation that may lead you to vape too much liquid that's too strong. I'd say they shouldn't even sell e-liquid with nicotine concentrations above 16 mg/ml (unless it's an ingredient for home mixing).
3. That French study only revealed some contamination problems that one specific e-liquid producer had, which allowed carcinogens into the liquid even though they weren't supposed to get there. This doesn't mean all producers have such problems, not by a longshot.

[Benwilli]

I love how non smokers are so concerned with the "possible" negative affects of ecigs. Where is the PSA about the "possible" negative affects of clothing dyes, or perfumes etc. If there are any negative health affects of ecigs they won't be nearly as bad as those of smoking cigarettes. Ecigs are saving lives so ease up.

[TheNade]

Every vape store i have been too says 18+ to even walk in the door.

[leightmatters]

I switched from cigarettes to an electric nic stick about 4 months ago. I started with 12 mg liquid, and am now down to 6-8 mg liquid. I didn't switch with the intention of quitting, just looking for a less messy alternative to cigarettes.
My house, car, and clothes no longer reek of cigarettes. The stains in my teeth from smoking are dissapearing, and I no longer cough up brown phlegm.
And the best part is that it's way, WAY cheaper.
.
Pack of smokes a day (at $10 a pack in Canada) = $70 a week
$70 a week times four months (17 weeks) = $1190 for 4 months smoking
.
Initial investment (Evod 2) and 30 ml bottle of liquid = $80
Averaging a bottle every 2 weeks for 4 months (at $20 a bottle) = $180
For a total of $260 for 4 months of vaping.

Basically, even if e-cigs were found to be as harmful as smoking, I still wouldn't switch back.

[trinix]

I'm 24, I smoke an e-cig like the one shown at 0:08. I started to smoke e-cig a couple of months ago to quit smoking regular cigarettes. Though I do smoke regular cigarettes a bit too, but about 90 % less than before. I can go weeks without a regular cigarette. From what I know, e-cig is much safer. I also smoke e-cig because it's much more practical.

[xRayshunx]

I know smoking is bad, but damn, people who DON'T smoke don't understand that we do know that bad affects and stuff but it's so hard to quit even if you do it once, even the taste is good after a while...

[FeelinGoode]

You forgot to mention that those carcinogenic molecules only exist in very high temperatures. When the temperature is that high it tastes disgusting and continue use is impossible. Way to report only the tip of the ice berg there. Very unprofessional.

[Raven-wgex]

I quit smoking thanks to the 21st century e cigarettes. It'd been 5 years and my health has greatly improved. So yes SAFE lol

[XbsnuserX]

Heres the deal though, vaccines have formaldehyde in them and they are administered intramuscularly. So if people are worried about it from ecigs then why aren't they concerned about it in vaccines.

[hellcat]

I began smoking when I was 13.  I smoked until I turned 25, then switched to a vaporizer.  Since I switched over 2 months ago, I haven't had a single cigarette.  I have noticed that my breathing is better, my smoker's cough is gone, and the smell of cigarettes is no longer a constant in my life.  I don't know if the vaporizer is any more healthy for me than regular smoking, but I do know that I FEEL better since switching.

[aksoccer]

i started smoking in 2011 and i had one of these and it really does help. my need for an actual cigarette has dropped to nearly zero need. but if i do need some quick puffs, this really does the trick