Second-hand e-cig smoke compared to regular cigarette smoke

Second-hand e-cig smoke compared to regular cigarette smoke

Despite a 10-fold decrease in overall exposure to carcinogenic particulate matter, researchers find increased levels of certain toxic metals in second-hand smoke from e-cigs.

E-cigarettes are healthier for your neighbors than traditional cigarettes, but still release toxins into the air, according to a new study from USC.

Scientists studying secondhand smoke from e-cigarettes discovered an overall 10-fold decrease in exposure to harmful particles, with close-to-zero exposure to organic carcinogens. However, levels of exposure to some harmful metals in second-hand e-cigarette smoke were found to be significantly higher.

While tobacco smoke contains high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons -- cancer-causing organic compounds -- the level of exposure to these substances was reduced to almost zero in second-hand e-cigarette smoke, due to the fact that they do not burn organic material the way old-fashioned cigarettes do.

However, despite the lack of harmful organic material and a decrease in the majority of toxic metals emissions, e-cigarette smoke contains the toxic element chromium, absent from traditional cigarettes, as well as nickel at levels four times higher than normal cigarettes. In addition, several other toxic metals such as lead and zinc were also found in second-hand e-cigarette smoke -- though in concentrations lower than for normal cigarettes.

"Our results demonstrate that overall electronic cigarettes seem to be less harmful than regular cigarettes, but their elevated content of toxic metals such as nickel and chromium do raise concerns," said Constantinos Sioutas, professor at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, and corresponding author of the study, which was published online on August 22 by the Journal of Environmental Science, Processes and Impacts.

There you have it folks, E-cig smoke can be harmful like cigarettes, just in different ways. Instead of harmful organic material & some other toxic metals, there is Chromium found in e-cigs & nickel, lead & zinc.

To sum it up: Pick your poison, they are both bad for you & people around you.

It's like how they got rid of BPA & substituted it for BPS but BPS is just as bad for you as BPA. Medications to treat migraines yet the side effect is headaches. Oh humans, we are so silly. Instead of making things better, we just substitute it for something not as bad but still bad for you.
*roll eyes*

This doesn't surprise me.
My boyfriend did the e-cig thing for a little while, and the smell of it made me me gag. To me, it had a really strange, familiar smell... And it wasn't until he was weeks from quitting that it clicked in my head that when he blew the air out, it smelled like the medication in inhalers. I immediately told him to get rid of it. If you're smoking something that smells like a medication it's probably not good for you.

He pulled the "I'm addicted to it," line and didn't quit til later on, but I stayed away from it.

I work in a hospital, we have patients always trying to light up a E-Cig, they get pretty pissed when we tell them to turn the things off.

And this is why we ask they keep them at home.

well its a safer and healthier alternative then conventional cigarettes..

I think that founding is amazing, also OP if you read nickel, zince, and lead, are found in conventional cigarettes also..

The only thing that the e-cig had that conventional did not was the chromium..

Acting like ecigs are not a safer alternative to conventional cigarettes is dumb..
People smoking and second handers are much safer being around and using the ecig. THATS THE BIG THING ABOUT THIS ARTICLE...

TEN TIMES SAFER LEVELS FOUND IN THE ECIG FOR THE USER AND THE PERSON OF SECOND HAND TO IT...

How can you competently say ahahahahaah gotcha ecgis baaaaaaaaad ecigs baaaaad ban them ban them..

####SNIPPED###

Half of the things you mentioned you get from taking a multivitamin.

www.centrum.com...

I stopped using mine some while ago, but nevertheless, the reporting on the e-gigarettes is pathetic with a bunch of actors blowing out huge clouds of smoke like a dippy diesel engine, so OTT, to make a point.

I question the validity, and the bias of this article.

All I see is ignorant people (in reference to this subject) going on about something they are bias against. Spouting myths and plain garbage that simply aren't true.

I would be happy to go point by point, and lay it all out for everyone, but there is simply too much to go over.

Well, back to injecting nicotine sub dermally...

But seriously, your take was a tad broad... the report (on the report) doesn't mention specific levels of the traces and indeed said it was safer... I'd wager quite a lot that just breathing our post industrial air delivers more toxins in most areas of the Earth.

We're all gonna die... deal.

a reply to: knoledgeispower

I dont mean to sound rude...but what kind of ecig? A mod with silica and kanthol and pharmaceutical grade juice or blue cheap stuff?

originally posted by: darkwarrior
a reply to: knoledgeispower

I dont mean to sound rude...but what kind of ecig? A mod with silica and kanthol and pharmaceutical grade juice or blue cheap stuff?

The article says that the metal particles likely come from the cartridge of traditional ecigs, so I am assuming that it would be those ecigs that closely resemble the real thing. I don't know many people that use those beyond a few weeks if they decide to continue vaping. The test was also done using....

Sioutas and Saffari compared the smoke from a common traditional cigarette brand with smoke from an Elips Serie C e-cigarette, one of the most popular European brands. The results could vary based on which type of cigarettes and e-cigarettes are tested, the researchers noted.

Not any mods, tanks, or other equipment usually found here in the US.

Results could vary.

I bet they could.....

the OP did his best....give him that.
The article is not valid and does not give detailed levels...period.
Anyone can state what they want with out facts to confirm said statement... the Prez does all the time.

So, until I see solid verified proof... I'll just go out side and breath the crap we call air.
it to will kill you with all that is in it.

Its a threat to tobacco companies. Back in time there were scientists which were paid to bring good imago to tobacco brands about how healthy smoking is. I wonder...

What cigarettes and e-cigarettes produce is not hard science. When computers are able to calculate whole genome of virus in few hours to days, how can this be so hard to bring hard evidence on the table..

originally posted by: Lyxdeslic
This doesn't surprise me.
My boyfriend did the e-cig thing for a little while, and the smell of it made me me gag. To me, it had a really strange, familiar smell... And it wasn't until he was weeks from quitting that it clicked in my head that when he blew the air out, it smelled like the medication in inhalers. I immediately told him to get rid of it. If you're smoking something that smells like a medication it's probably not good for you.

He pulled the "I'm addicted to it," line and didn't quit til later on, but I stayed away from it.

The smell, especially the medicated smell, was due to the flavor of the liquid. Mine certainly doesn't have the smell you describe.

Not to mention that there are so many brands of liquid, and the majority are not good at all. I wouldn't vape most brands, but then again, I have mine made fresh, and I know exactly what's in the mix. With other brands from say, China, they mix them differently, with more additives, I believe. I wouldn't go near liquid made in China.

a reply to: knoledgeispower

I see the propaganda has infiltrated nicely into the masses.

Ecigarettes do not emit smoke. I don't have the energy anymore to argue on a message board any farther than that. And that was just the title.

*sigh*

You ask them to turn it off because of baseless assumptions? I'm glad they get pissed. I'd tell you to get bent and do it anyway :-)

Although, I don't vape in hospitals, it seems rather rude.

What if they made e-cigs from wood like the old wooden pipes?