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Research into second hand emissions from cigarettes and e-cigarettes (Abstract) has found that while there is a tenfold decrease in overall exposure to carcinogenic particulate matter from e-cigarettes compared to cigarettes, there were increased levels of certain toxic metals. The researchers noted that more of this came from the device itself as opposed to the liquid used in the device.
In recent years, electronic cigarettes have gained increasing popularity as alternatives to normal (tobacco-containing) cigarettes. In the present study, particles generated by e-cigarettes and normal cigarettes have been analyzed and the degree of exposure to different chemical agents and their emission rates were quantified. Despite the 10-fold decrease in the total exposure to particulate elements in e-cigarettes compared to normal cigarettes, specific metals (e.g. Ni and Ag) still displayed a higher emission rate from e-cigarettes. Further analysis indicated that the contribution of e-liquid to the emission of these metals is rather minimal, implying that they likely originate from other components of the e-cigarette device or other indoor sources. Organic species had lower emission rates during e-cigarette consumption compared to normal cigarettes. Of particular note was the non-detectable emission of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from e-cigarettes, while substantial emission of these species was observed from normal cigarettes. Overall, with the exception of Ni, Zn, and Ag, the consumption of e-cigarettes resulted in a remarkable decrease in secondhand exposure to all metals and organic compounds. Implementing quality control protocols on the manufacture of e-cigarettes would further minimize the emission of metals from these devices and improve their safety and associated health effects.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by KiloByte on Friday August 29 2014, @08:25PM
There seems to be a crusade going on to try to ban these e-cigs, and that really pisses me off. Here we have a product that is actually helping many people quit smoking.
You have not quit smoking, merely switched from one source of nicotine to another, nearly as harmful. You may inhale fewer carcinogens but the main poison, nicotine, is present in the same or bigger quantities.
Ceterum censeo systemd esse delendam.
(Score: 2) by Snow on Friday August 29 2014, @08:46PM
Actually, yes, switching is quitting smoking. The vapour is not smoke, it's vapour. Think stage smoke with nicotine added.
As for your clain that nicotine is the main poison, do you have anything to back that claim up? I would be genuinely interested in reading it.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Vanderhoth on Friday August 29 2014, @09:32PM
Well, they did use nicotine as an insecticide [wikipedia.org] for a number of years. I doubt that makes it good for you... but it's probably less harmful than the other crap that are in cigarettes.
"Now we know", "And knowing is half the battle". -G.I. Joooooe