How Safe is Vaping in Comparison to Smoking? Find Out

The discussion on the safety of vaping has been going on for a long time now. There is a huge taboo regarding e-cigarettes despite several studies confirming that there are no convincing short-term or long-term health hazards that can be linked to e-cigarette use. Besides, the public perception is also changing very rapidly as 37% of US survey think vaping is a much safer alternative to smoking.

Having said that, there are several misleading clickbait news and articles which create a false perception of e-cigarettes, claiming it is equally harmful in comparison to standard cigarettes. When such information is being repeatedly shown to the public, it actually becomes the truth. This will hurt those smokers who are desperately trying to quit the addiction as e-cigarette is proven to be a very good alternative to cigarettes.

In this article, we will see everything regarding the safety of Vaping and you will see some popular myths revolving around it getting busted. So, let us begin

Scientist's Take on Vaping

Numerous studies have confirmed that vaping is relatively safe as compared to Smoking. You should note that Cochrane Library, a non-profit that looks at reliable studies, issued their E-Cigarette Report in 2016, which stated that there is no noticeable short term adverse effects related with vaping. 

Unlike e-cigarettes, the tobacco inside the standard cigarettes holds over 3000 harmful chemicals that pose danger to almost each organ of the human body. Tobacco is entirely absent in vaping which makes it a relatively much safer option than smoking. 

Safety of Vaping Devices

Though we all have heard about the ‘battery explosion’ of gadgets, there is little to no evidence of a vaping device getting blown up. Yes, an e-cigarette does contain a battery which is sensitive like any other charger. But, it doesn’t mean that it is vulnerable to an explosion as portrayed by the media.

Having said that, it is suggested that vapers avoid carrying loose batteries in the pocket and also refrain from doing improper charging.  Moreover, if you are trying to build your own coils, keep in mind that it can injure you if not done correctly. If you are not that good with Ohm’s law, then it would be best to buy mods that have internal circuitry instead of battery.

E-Juice Ingredients and Their Safety

As we have discussed the main ingredient of a traditional cigarette, which is tobacco, we shall now compare it with the e-liquids which are used in an electronic cigarette. E-liquids. 

 

 

• Propylene Glycol: Several research has shown that PG is relatively safe, even if it is in aerosol form. This fact is confirmed by several independent studies. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) had done a study that revealed that PG doesn’t impair lung function or cause asthma, although it causes irritation.

 

• Vegetable Glycerin: Another base liquid used in almost all e-juices, VG can be an irritant only if it is consumed in high doses. Vegetable Glycerin has a sweeter taste and less “throat hit”. 

 

• Nicotine: Nicotine, even though it is addictive, has got most of its bad reputation due to its association with smoking. Nicotine can be bad only when you are overdosing it, which will give you nausea, dizziness and headaches. Unlike the standard cigarettes, an electronic cigarette gives you the facility to set the nicotine levels within the safe limit. 

 

 

Barring these, one can also use zero nicotine e-juice flavours in an e-cigarette, which helps a vaper to entirely avoid the addictive nicotine. Zero-nicotine flavours also play a huge role in kicking smoking addiction as well.

Breaking the Myth of Vaping Toxicity

A lot of news sites had discussed the toxicity of vaping, where the focus was particularly on how “second-hand vapour” was damaging indoor air quality. A recent study by the Centre for Disease Control has now disproved the theory that vaping can harm people who happen to be present in the same room as that of the vaper. The aim behind CDC’s study was to measure the Occupational Exposure Level (OEL) to certain chemicals in a vape shop. 

The results clearly showed that the levels of Vegetable Glycerine, Propylene Glycol and flavourings were well below NIOSH permissible levels. As a matter of fact, it was so low that it was not even quantifiable, which revealed that it was completely safe for humans. 

Conclusion

As you have just seen, all the evidence indicates that vaping is remarkably safer than smoking for both vapers as well as bystanders. These results shall surely encourage someone who is trying hard to quit smoking addiction forever, as the person can now opt for vaping. 

These studies on vaping shall also give a huge boost to the vaping industry to set new benchmarks in future. Either by continuing to use safe vaping ingredients or finding substitutes that offer zero harm to the vapers.