Two recent studies have disproved some of the negative health risks associated with electronic cigarettes (e-cigs).
Among the many risks are concerns that the vapor emitted from the devices or exhaled by users contains toxic substances that could be similar to the second-hand smoke from cigarettes.
Recently, a new study of the ingredients of e-cig vapor has been reported by Prof. Igor Burstyn of the School of Public Health of Drexel University’s Dept. of Environmental and Occupational Health.
The study revealed that “the levels of contaminants e-cig users are exposed to are insignificant, far below levels that would pose any health risk. Additionally, there is no health risk to bystanders. Proposals to ban e-cigarettes in places where smoking is banned have been based on concern there is a potential risk to bystanders, but the study shows there is no concern.”
A second study, done by Greek researchers this year, revealed that e-cigs do not appear to pose a threat to the heart.
Dr Konstantinos Farsalinos from the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center in Athens announced the findings at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology.
Farsalinos and his team examined the heart function of 20 young smokers before and after smoking one tobacco cigarette against that of 22 e-cigarette users before and after using the device for seven minutes.
The tobacco smokers suffered significant heart dysfunction, including raised blood pressure and heart rate, while the e-cig users only had a slight elevation in blood pressure.
Another small study, also in Greece, reported earlier this year the devices had little impact on lung function.
Concern, however, continues to rise over the devices. Attorneys general from 40 states reportedly sent a letter to the FDA urging them to meet an Oct. 31 deadline to issue regulations on monitoring e-cigs the same way as tobacco products.
The government shutdown has since impacted the FDA’s operations and will likely delay the FDA’s response to the letter.
