As reported on Dana Farber’s Insight Blog, Nicotine, a chemical component is found in tobacco leaves and the “smoking” liquid in e-cigarettes and vapes. It is an addictive substance, producing pleasurable, relaxed feelings when it is inhaled as a smoke, vapor or when ingested in the form of chewing tobacco.
However, nicotine does NOT cause cancer. Nicotine is one of thousands of chemicals found in tobacco. Dozens of these chemicals, in particular, tar, are known carcinogens.
E-cigarettes deliver nicotine without the carcinogenic chemicals like tar, and many others, that are found in tobacco. Because of this, e-cigarettes are thought to pose less of a cancer risk than traditional cigarettes.
However, this does not mean that e-cigarettes are completely safe. It has been found that nicotine exposure during pregnancy can be damaging to the developing fetus and can have lasting consequences for brain and lung function for newborns. Nicotine also has a negative impact on brain development in adolescents.
E-cigarettes and e-cigarette liquid cartridges have also been found to contain low levels of carcinogenic compounds. For example, a 2014 study found that aerosol from e-cigarettes with a higher voltage level contained the carcinogen formaldehyde.
A study led by Dana Farber’s Andy Tan, Ph.D., MPH, found that the public is poorly informed about the potentially harmful substances in secondhand e-cigarette vapor. More people need to be educated about the risks associated with e-cigarettes, as well as traditional cigarettes.
Please note, the contents of this article do not necessarily represent the official position of the PSMO. If you have any health concerns, please consult your general physician. For any cancer-related concerns and to ensure the best possible advice, please speak to a Cancer Expert. If you would like to reach out to the PSMO, please contact us here or search for your closest PSMO doctor here.
Article Reference Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/leukaemia-preventable-infection-clean-household-lack-of-microbes
