That electronic vaporizers are significantly less harmful to health than conventional tobacco cigarettes is a common misconception. What is concealed: depending on the type of e-cigarette and the composition of the liquid used, harmful substances may well be inhaled.
Initial information about acute lung failure and deaths and the ban on e-cigarettes in the USA are also making more and more experts in Switzerland sit up and take notice [1]. In fact, these are not as harmless as propagated. There are certainly larger quantities of substances that are problematic to health in the vapor. Tests showed carcinogenic formaldehyde in over 60% of samples. Inhalation of formaldehyde over a long period of time impairs lung function, leads to chronic respiratory diseases and can cause cancer, especially in the nasopharynx. However, propylene glycol (respiratory irritant), lead or chromium were also found in the samples [2,3].
A recent review notes the acute potentially adverse health effects, which particularly affect the lungs and respiratory tract [4]. “The long-term effects of e-cigarette use cannot be fully assessed at this stage. However, the findings to date show that these devices pose a considerable health risk. It is therefore negligent and irresponsible of the cigarette industry to sell e-cigarettes as a harmless, modern alternative,” railed Prof. Michael Pfeifer, MD, President of the DGP.
No alternative to smoking cessation
They are also not suitable for smoking cessation, as recent study data show. Although a meta-analysis of several longitudinal studies on the efficacy of e-cigarettes demonstrated that e-cigarettes showed a short-term positive cessation effect under controlled clinical conditions. However, in the long term and under real-life conditions, they make smoking abstinence more difficult. The most sensible way to get permanently off nicotine is through structured cessation programs, according to Prof. Tobias Welte, MD, Past-President of the European Respiratory Society (ERS). The ERS also opposes downplaying the dangers of e-cigarettes [5].
Literature:
- Layden JE, Ghinai I, Pray I, et al: Pulmonary illness related to e-cigarette use in Illinois and Wisconsin – preliminary report. N Engl J Med 2019, Sep 6; DOI: 10.1056.
- Jabba S, Jordt SE: Risk analysis for the carcinogen pulegone in mint- and menthol-flavored e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products. JAMA Intern Med 2019, Sep 16. DOI: 10.1001.
- Bitzer Z, Goel R, Reilly S, et al: Effect of flavoring chemicals on free radical formation in electronic cigarette aerosols, Free Radic Biol Med 2018; 120: 72-79.
- Gotts JE, Jordt SE, McConnell R, Tarran R: What are the respiratory effects of e-cigarettes? BMJ. 2019; 366: l5275. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.l5275.
- European Respiratory Society, Tobacco Control Committee: position paper on tobacco harm reduction (translated by DGP). August 2019.
InFo ONCOLOGY & HEMATOLOGY 2019; 7(6): 30
