Electronic smoking devices: a dangerous hobby for children and adolescents. A review

Abstract

The bandwagon for electronic smoking devices among children and adolescents is currently epidemic-like. This is due to the misconception supported by manufacturers about the alleged safety of e-cigarettes and vapes compared to tobacco smoking. However, to date, it has been established that the use of electronic smoking devices, on the contrary, leads to an increase in nicotine dependence, increases the risk of smoking, and double consumption. The long-term health effects of inhaled aerosol from electronic smoking devices have not been thoroughly studied. However, studies showed its cytotoxic and immunosuppressive effects, the ability to drive inflammation and oxidative stress, impair mucociliary clearance, alter airway reactivity, cause DNA damage, and hamper its repair. The association between the use of electronic smoking devices and asthma has been shown. The potential adverse health effects of e-cigarettes need to be carefully studied, especially in children and adolescents.