E-Cigarettes: Dangerous For Youth And Children
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are small battery-operated devices that have been designed to look like actual cigarettes. Some resemble a fountain pen or small flash light, frequently with a clear large chamber where the liquid is stored. Instead of tobacco being burned, an e-liquid is vaporized by e-cigarettes, which is inhaled by the user.
E-cigarettes are comprised of three main parts:
A battery with varying voltage for powering the e-cigarette.
The vaporizer heats up and transforms the liquid into a vapour intended to resemble and inhale just like smoke.
The inhaler cartridge stores the e-liquid (that may or may not contain nicotine, which is a toxic and addictive ingredient that is in traditional cigarettes).
The use of e-cigarettes by teens and children is increasing. Cool designs are sported by e-cigarettes and the eliquid comes in a wide variety of fruit and candy flavours that are readily available. In addition, many celebrities use and promote e-cigarettes in music videos, movies and magazines.
How does an e-cigarette work?
Whenever the users draws on the e-cigarette’s mouthpiece, the vaporizer is powered by the battery and the e-liquid inside the inhaler cartridge is heated up. The e-liquid is then transformed into a vapor and inhaled and exhaled the same way that a regular cigarette is. It is often referred to as “vaping,” and some dictionaries have officially recognized the term as a new verb.
Are e-cigarettes dangerous?
There are some parents who might opt for e-cigarettes as a way to get their children to stop smoking. However, there isn’t any evidence that supports this being an effective therapy for quitting smoking tobacco. Frequently e-cigarettes are advertised as being a ‘safer alternative’ compared to cigarettes because they don’t cause your lungs to fill up with tobacco smoke, which is quite toxic. However, e-cigarettes have not been scientifically tested and it has not been proven that they help with quitting smoking. For these reasons, there can be no positive health claims made legally for e-cigarettes. However, there are a number of different ways in which e-cigarettes may be dangerous to one’s health:
The chemical propylene glycol and the flavourings contained in the e-liquid, by themselves, can irritate ones lungs and make breathing problems such as asthma and bronchitis worse. The ingredients, when heated up, change their form and toxins are created. The colourless gas formaldehyde may be produced at higher levels than in regular cigarettes.
Heavy metals coming from the materials that are used to make e-cigarettes are also released by the heating process at higher levels compared to regular cigarettes. This vapour may be harmful to both the user as well as individuals who are exposed to second hand smoke coming from e-cigarettes.
Currently there isn’t any legislation that requires labelling the nicotine percent in e-liquid, child-proof packaging or warning labels. Therefore, users are unable to rely on labels to know whether or not there is nicotine contained in an e-liquid. Also, if nicotine is present, the concentration of it can vary greatly.
E-cigarettes that contain nicotine, just like regular cigarettes, have been linked to numerous harmful effects on youth and children, ranging from having disruptive effects on a young person’s developing brain to addiction.
E-cigarettes might lead to teens using tobacco.
Even in small doses, the liquid nicotine that is used for refilling e-cigarettes may be poisonous to young children if it is ingested and if spilled on the skin can be toxic.
Occasionally the batteries contained with the e-device has exploded.
How can liquid nicotine poisoning be detected?
There are three ways that liquid nicotine poisoning may occur:
- Absorbed through the eyes or skin
- Inhaled
- Swallowed
Liquid nicotine poisoning symptoms may include the following:
- Seizures
- Difficulty breathing
- Being shaking and jittery
- A rapid heartbeat
- Vomiting or nausea
If you have any suspicions that your child might have nicotine poisoning, call the local poison control centre immediately.
Are e-cigarettes legal? If so, were in Canada can they be used?
E-cigarettes without nicotine may be sold. In Canada, it is illegal to sell e-cigarettes with nicotine, however they are still sol in numerous mall kiosks, gas stations and convenience stores as well as online.
Since e-cigarettes aren’t regulated, currently there aren’t any binding rules regarding their manufacture or labelling.
E-cigarettes have not been included in smoke-free by-laws. However, their use has been banned by some schools and municipalities in public places where it is forbidden to smoke. Legislation is being considered by some provinces.
What steps can parents take?
Educate teens and children about the risks and dangers of using e-cigarettes as well as being exposed to the second-hand vapours of e-cigarettes. You might also want to use it as an opportunity for discussing traditional tobacco use as well.
E-cigarettes, including empty cartridges and nicotine refills, should be kept out of reach of pets and children. Also be sure to dispose of all batteries in an environmentally sound and safe manner.
Don’t ever use e-cigarettes around children. You should ideally limit using e-cigarettes to only places where it is permitted to smoke.
Nursing mothers or pregnant women shouldn’t use e-cigarettes or have exposure to second-hand vapours.
1 Comments
Jeremy Barnes
September 14, 2016 at 10:59 am
I think that I can see how that would be beneficial to quitting smoking, they would't replace the nicotine urge, but most of smoking is just habit, certain triggers and times when you want one. other than that, they are dumb and I don't see the point. There is nothing cool about them