Electronic Cigarettes: Are They Smoking Cessation Aids or Health Hazards?

Abstract

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the marketing of an electronic cigarette (e-cig) brand called Vuse (RJ Reynolds Vapor Company, US) to help aid in smoking cessation for adult smokers. It was believed that the consumption of traditional cigarettes and their harmful effects would be reduced given the availability of newer e-cigarettes. However, adolescent use of tobacco and nicotine products rather increased with the availability of the same e-cigarettes, and the FDA-approved market boom only worsened this problem. Although the FDA underlines the importance of marketing e-cigarettes as a possible solution for adult traditional smoking, its consequences on adolescents' health raise many concerns, which we narrated in this review article.

The commercial promotion of electronic cigarettes on social media and its influence on positive perceptions of vaping and vaping behaviours in Anglophone countries: A scoping review

“…While some evidence suggests that e-cigarette contributes to smoking cessation [5], there is also concern that their use may lead to increased smoking behaviours among young people [6][7][8], potentially serving as a gateway to smoking [9]. Hence, the paradox surrounding e-cigarette usage is related to the harm reduction benefit it promotes for former smokers against the health hazards they present, including for non-smokers [10,11].…”

Adverse Maternal and Infant Outcomes of Women Who Differ in Smoking Status: E-Cigarette and Tobacco Cigarette Users

“…They benefit from feeling like conventional cigarettes to use, having the ability to add pleasant flavors, and heating an "e-liquid" instead of burning tobacco [12]. However, e-liquids cannot be considered safe because they can still contain nicotine (0-36.6 mg/mL) and other potentially harmful chemicals with known adverse health effects in non-pregnant users and a growing prevalence of e-cig/vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI) in the United States [10,[13][14][15]. EVALI is characterized by dyspnea, cough, and hypoxemia with bilateral airspace opacities on chest imaging, where patients often have to be admitted to the intensive care unit [15].…”

Vaping and Adolescent: A Growing Public Health Concern

“…However, exposure to nicotine early in life harms brain development with impaired cognition and executive functioning, memory and attention deficits, mood changes and increased impulsivity 5 . It has also been found to increase pro-inflammatory markers in gingival epithelial cells with an increased risk of staphylococcus aureus colonization and oral biofilm formation 7 . The inhalant found in vape is also detrimental to the lungs.…”

“…This is coupled with an increased pulmonary and cardiovascular risk including greater prevalence and exacerbation of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis, increased arterial stiffness and sympathetic tone 6 . Additionally, a large number of e-cig/vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI) cases have also been reported since the year 2019, with symptoms including dyspnea, cough, hypoxemia, opacities on chest radiograph and increased admission to ICU for life-threatening complications 7 . The unexplored chemical products in vape are associated with hepatocyte damage, elevated liver biomarkers, alteration in the gut barrier, increased susceptibility to GI infections and decreased renal function 7 .…”

“…Additionally, a large number of e-cig/vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI) cases have also been reported since the year 2019, with symptoms including dyspnea, cough, hypoxemia, opacities on chest radiograph and increased admission to ICU for life-threatening complications 7 . The unexplored chemical products in vape are associated with hepatocyte damage, elevated liver biomarkers, alteration in the gut barrier, increased susceptibility to GI infections and decreased renal function 7 .…”