E-Cigarette Safety Tips
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have become remarkably popular in the past few years. Most people believe that e-cigarettes not only are safer than cigarettes, but also are effective tools to aid in smoking cessation. Many are using e-cigarettes with little knowledge of the potential harm to themselves and others.
E-cigarette ingredients are not standard across the industry, and the levels of those substances remain variable from product to product. Research shows that the fluid and aerosol in e-cigarettes contains known toxins, including propylene glycol, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and tobacco-specific nitrosamines. If you use e-cigarettes, make sure to research the products before you buy.
Data from the American Association of Poison Control Centers shows that poisoning incidents involving e-cigarettes and liquid nicotine increased by 156% in the past year, and have increased more than 14 fold since 2011. Nicotine poisoning is most likely to occur in small children who tamper with e-cigarette cartridges. More than half the calls to the poison control centers involved a child under the age of six. If you choose to use e-cigarettes, please make sure to keep them in a place safe from small children.