New Understanding of the Health Hazards of Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping.

Abstract

1. Harold J. Farber, MD, MSPH* 1. *Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX This In Brief was accepted for publication in November 2019. Considering that medical information on the effects of vaping continues to develop, please see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website on vaping for up-to-date information: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html. Joseph A. Zenel, MD Editor-in-Chief ​ ​ Electronic cigarettes are addicting a new generation. Although initially promoted as safer than cigarettes and “no tobacco smoke, only vapor,” we are now finding substantial health hazards from these products. Designed to appeal to and promoted to youth, their popularity has surged among middle and high school students, increasing from 1.5% in 2011 to 27.5% in 2019. As a rising tide lifts all boats, after a long period of decline, in 2018 combustible tobacco use among high school students increased. Electronic cigarette use among adolescents and young adults is associated with greater rates of progression to combustible tobacco smoking and progression from intermittent to regular use of combustible tobacco. Electronic cigarettes are referred to by many terms, including e-cigarettes, vape pens, vapes, vaporizers, e-hookah, mechanical mods, Juul, and others. Electronic cigarettes use a heating element or atomizer to create an aerosol from a solution of nicotine, flavoring chemicals, propylene glycol, and glycerin. Other substances may be added. Heating of the solution …