Smokeless cigarettes, also known as electronic cigarettes, produce a fine, heated mist instead of smoke. These battery-powered devices mimic cigarettes in look and feel--some even featuring a glowing end. However, rather than delivering tobacco, the electronic cigarette delivers nicotine and propylene glycol to the smoker. While not producing dangerous secondhand smoke, electronic cigarettes may still be dangerous to smokers. Hazards include the presence of toxic chemicals, the inclusion of known carcinogens and mislabeled levels of nicotine.
Toxic Chemicals
According the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, also known as the FDA, a 2009 analysis was done on various smokeless cigarette brands by the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation, Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis. This analysis revealed a variety of chemicals toxic to humans. The inclusion of diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze, was found in at least one smokeless cigarette brand. This chemical is known to produce coughing and dizziness when inhaled.
Carcinogens
Nitrosamines, a class of approximately 300 chemical compounds, generally are used as food additives. Ninety percent of known nitrosamines are carcinogenic and have the potential to cause cancer, according to The Linus Pauling Institute. The FDA analysis of smokeless cigarettes revealed the presence of nitrosamines in half the brands tested, putting humans at risk of cancer from using these tobacco cigarette alternatives.
Nicotine
An FDA analysis indicates that incorrect labeling on smokeless cigarettes may expose smokers to unexpected nicotine or higher levels of nicotine than advertised. Nicotine exposure leads to an addiction to cigarettes, the tar from which increases the chance of developing lung cancer, emphysema and bronchial disorders, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Even though smokeless cigarettes contain no tar, the nicotine present may undermine smokers' use of smokeless cigarettes as a way of kicking the smoking habit, because nicotine is addictive.
References
- The Official State of Connecticut Website: Types of Tobacco Products
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Summary of Results: Laboratory Analysis of Electronic Cigarettes Conducted By FDA
- Pesticide Action Network Pesticides Database: Diethylene glycol
- The Linus Pauling Institute: Nitrosamines and Cancer
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Tobacco/Nicotine
