In the midst of hype about e cigs being so much better than cigarettes, there is another side to the argument. Scientists don't know for sure if there are risks to becoming a vaper instead of a smoker.
The question of risk goes beyond the technical, scientific side of vapor and electronics too: what about cultural risks? Could e cigs be creating a generation of vapers who wouldn't have smoked? In so doing, is there a chance these young people will be harmed by the new trend?
Starting with the Benefits
Let's begin by saying that there are countless testimonials on the worldwide web proving that e cigs can and do change lives. Smokers who tried everything else finally discovered there was a way to quit smoking without fear of going back to the old tar sticks; a way to get healthy again.
A lot of these people genuinely got their lives back when they switched. They could expect to die of COPD, emphysema, lung cancer, or an asthma attack in the next few years if they didn't shape up soon, but nicotine was the thing that held them back. They couldn't break the cycle of addiction.
E cigs provided an alternative while also offering a way to eventually give up nicotine and, ultimately, to stop vaping too. While there is a huge contingent of the population that takes up vaping as a new hobby with no intention of ever giving it up, and a lot of these people keep vaping nicotine, benefits have vastly outweighed any negatives a researcher could possibly dig up.
Uncertainties
There are many unknown quantities in this mix; a lot of questions for which there are, as yet, no firm answers. Maybe inhaling nicotine as a vapor is more dangerous than smoking. Perhaps vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol (both considered harmless to the general public by the FDA) do something different when they become vapor than when they are ingested as food.
What about materials for vaping: is there any doubt around conveying vapor through these tubes? Some researchers believe they will find danger signals in their studies. They don't plan to prove that e cigs are as dangerous as smoking; they just don't want the world to think e cigs are completely safe.
Propylene Glycol
Some people genuinely react to PG. They experience respiratory problems, rash: the sorts of problem associated with an allergic reaction. Such individuals would have felt the same at a concert or in a haunted house where propylene glycol was turned into fog. Still, anyone who has never had contact with PG would be at risk of discovering this unusual reaction the first time he vaped if the e-liquid he was using contained this ingredient.
Other Additives
There are also concerns about some of the artificial and natural flavorings and colorings used to make e-liquid. Even a natural product can be dangerous (think back to Cuttwood and the debacle with colorants a year or so ago). Certain dyes and flavors cause reactions in users. But e-liquid companies do not always reveal their ingredients, and that is a big concern.
They are afraid of other businesses stealing their ideas, but they are also probably fearful that when customers see what a flavor is made from the romance will be over. They will associate a custard or cinnamon bun vapor juice with some chemical name no one can pronounce.
Electronic Risks
Several stories involving e cigs have given the public cause for alarm. A man's electronic cigarette blew up while it was in his mouth. He lost some teeth and suffered burns. Another consumer plugged his battery into a wall charger and then fell asleep. He woke up to the smell of smoke and sight of flames.
Such events are not common, but they do make you wonder: which products can be relied upon? Which ones are dangerous? As long as there is dialogue, however, there is a chance this industry could rise above reasonable fears.
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