Vaping is addictive and can contain cancer-causing substances, such as formaldehyde and mercury. In addition to nicotine, e-cigarette vapors contain potentially toxic substances which are solvent byproducts (generated by heat) released in the vapor and/or trace constituents of the flavoring additives. Many of the toxic substances present in TC’s sidestream and mainstream smoke are absent or negligible although e-cigarette vapors have been shown to contain traces of heavy metals as well as carcinogenic and teratogenic agents derived from flavoring additives. The ingredients are seldom disclosed by the manufacturers. Through testing, multiple researchers have found higher nicotine levels than disclosed (Abul Kaisar et al., 2016).
The long-term health impact of vaping is unknown. (Abul Kaisar et al., 2016)
Vaping can lead to smoking. E-Cigarette use was associated with greater risk for subsequent cigarette smoking initiation and past 30-day cigarette smoking. The pooled probabilities of cigarette smoking initiation were 30.4% for baseline ever e-cigarette users and 7.9% for baseline never e-cigarette users. The pooled probabilities of past 30-day cigarette smoking at follow-up were 21.5% for baseline past 30-day e-cigarette users and 4.6% for baseline non-past 30-day e-cigarette users. (Soneji et al., 2017)
Vaping may not be an effective tool for smokers trying to quit. As currently being used, e-cigarettes are associated with significantly less quitting among smokers (Kalkhoran & Glantz, 2016). E-cigarettes are not nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) approved by the FDA for smoking cessation. Approved products for cessation include nicotine patch/gum, bupropion SR, and varenicline (Abul Kaisar et al., 2016).