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I. Introduction
II. Analysis of Harm from a Composition Perspective
III. Differences in Impact on Human Health
IV. Different Hazards Manifested During Use
V. Role and Concerns in Aiding Smoking Cessation
VI. Conclusion and Recommendations
In contemporary society, the use of both Vapes and traditional cigarettes is widespread. On streets and in alleys, it is common to see individuals holding conventional cigarettes, exhaling clouds of smoke. Meanwhile, Vapes, with their diverse flavors and stylish designs, have quietly gained popularity among various groups, particularly young people. It is well-established that smoking is detrimental to health; however, opinions vary widely regarding whether Vapes or cigarettes pose greater harm. This debate not only affects smokers' personal health choices but also influences the extent to which surrounding individuals are protected from secondhand smoke exposure. This article provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of the harms associated with Vapes and cigarettes to foster a clearer understanding.
During the combustion and inhalation of cigarettes, a multitude of harmful chemical components are produced, including well-known substances such as tar, carbon monoxide, and nicotine. Tar, commonly referred to as "tobacco residue," ranges from 5-15 mg per cigarette and contains various carcinogens. It adheres to the mucous membranes of the trachea and alveoli, impairing their function. Long-term accumulation is a primary cause of lung and laryngeal cancer, and it also contributes to the yellowing of smokers' teeth and fingers. Carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas, is produced at 20-30 mL per cigarette. Its affinity for hemoglobin is 260 times greater than that of oxygen, disrupting oxygen transport in the blood and affecting organ function and metabolism. It can also increase cholesterol deposits, accelerate atherosclerosis, and, in combination with nitrogen oxides and free radicals in smoke, damage vascular endothelial function, increase blood viscosity, promote thrombosis, and exacerbate cardiovascular diseases. Nicotine, a highly addictive substance second only to heroin in addictiveness, stimulates dopamine release in the brain, inducing pleasure, but it also elevates heart rate and blood pressure, potentially triggering heart disease and fostering dependence on cigarettes.
Additionally, tobacco contains toxic substances such as benzopyrene, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, and acrolein, which severely damage bronchial mucosa, leading to infections in the bronchi and lungs. Benzopyrene and formaldehyde are potent carcinogens. Tobacco also includes harmful metals like cadmium, mercury, lead, arsenic, and nickel. For instance, cadmium is a strong carcinogen that can cause respiratory asthma, emphysema, kill sperm leading to male infertility, and result in bone decalcification, deformation, and fragility, increasing fracture risk. In summary, these harmful components in cigarettes contribute to lung cancer, heart disease, vascular endothelial damage, and other significant health impacts.
The primary components in Vapes include glycerin, propylene glycol, flavoring agents, and nicotine. Propylene glycol is commonly used as a carrier for particulate medications in clinical settings, but when heated above 107°C, it releases harmful substances that may cause nausea, stomach pain, and respiratory system damage. Nicotine, also known as alkaloid, not only induces dependence but also leads to adverse effects such as nausea, loss of appetite, elevated blood pressure, and accelerated heart rate, increasing the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
Flavoring agents, as artificial additives, can harm health when ingested in excess. The nicotine content in Vapes is comparable to that in traditional cigarettes, causing vascular constriction, elevated blood pressure, vascular endothelial damage, coronary artery spasms, and potentially angina or myocardial infarction. Moreover, flavoring agents in Vapes contain diacetyl, which imparts a butter-like taste but may lead to life-threatening respiratory conditions such as obliterative bronchiolitis (commonly known as "popcorn lung"). Certain components in some Vape products can act as allergens, causing eye and respiratory discomfort, and may even result in headaches, dizziness, and drowsiness. Thus, Vapes pose multiple health hazards.
Vapes are often perceived as a "healthier" alternative to traditional cigarettes, yet they pose substantial health risks. The heated vapor and chemicals directly irritate and damage oral mucosa, potentially leading to oral ulcers and periodontal diseases. Nicotine and other harmful chemicals stimulate the respiratory tract, increasing the likelihood of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and impaired lung function.
From a carcinogenicity perspective, Vapes contain various harmful chemicals, such as formaldehyde and vinyl acetate, which are known carcinogens, elevating cancer risk with long-term use. Nicotine, a key component, not only fosters dependence but also raises blood pressure and heart rate, heightening the risk of heart attacks and adversely affecting the cardiovascular system. Some components may serve as allergens, causing eye and respiratory discomfort, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Overall, the health impacts of Vapes span multiple systems and should not be overlooked.
Cigarettes exert extensive and profound harm on human health. In the respiratory system, they are a major contributor to lung cancer, with combustion-produced tar and other carcinogens adhering to tracheal and alveolar mucosa, leading to long-term accumulation that induces lung and laryngeal cancer, as well as chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
The cardiovascular system is similarly affected, with carbon monoxide and nicotine disrupting oxygen transport, impacting organ function and metabolism, increasing cholesterol deposits, accelerating atherosclerosis, elevating blood viscosity, and exacerbating conditions like hypertension.
For the digestive system, tar causes capillary contraction and spasms in the stomach, reducing mucosal protection and making it susceptible to gastric acid and Helicobacter pylori erosion, resulting in redness, ulcers, erosion, and potentially gastrointestinal cancers or gastroesophageal reflux disease.
For pregnant women, nicotine and other harmful substances during pregnancy can impair fetal development, leading to deformities such as cleft lip and palate or clubfoot, intrauterine distress or asphyxia, intellectual impairment, and increased early miscarriage risk. Smoking also affects skeletal health, contributing to osteoporosis. In essence, cigarettes inflict severe, multifaceted harm on health.
Vapes generate vapor through atomization and heating for inhalation, a process fraught with health risks. For example, e-liquid leaks containing nicotine, propylene glycol, and glycerin can irritate the respiratory tract if inhaled into the lungs, causing coughing and shortness of breath. High doses of nicotine are toxic, potentially leading to nicotine poisoning with symptoms like nausea, headaches, and palpitations; severe cases may involve respiratory depression or arrhythmias. Some Vapes use substandard batteries, posing risks of leakage or explosion.
The Vape market currently lacks robust regulation, resulting in variable product quality. Some e-liquids may have inaccurate labeling, excessive formaldehyde, or unverified additives like collagen, betel nut alkaloids, or caffeine, amplifying health risks upon inhalation. Skin contact with e-liquid can also trigger allergic reactions, such as itching or swelling. Therefore, Vapes are not as safe as some promotions suggest and present multiple hazards during use.
Cigarettes produce smoke through combustion, which enters the body during inhalation, harming health. The smoke contains tar, carbon monoxide, nicotine, and numerous toxic compounds, damaging the smoker's respiratory, cardiovascular, and digestive systems, while also generating secondhand smoke that affects others.
In crowded public spaces, secondhand smoke disperses carcinogens and toxins at concentrations potentially higher than firsthand smoke. Even brief exposure can adversely affect the cardiovascular system, leading to coronary heart disease. Prolonged exposure irritates the respiratory tract, increasing risks of COPD, asthma, lung function decline, and lung cancer in nonsmokers. Vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women face heightened risks: children may experience impaired lung development, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), otitis media, pneumonia, and asthma; pregnant women risk preterm birth and low birth weight. Thus, cigarettes pose significant threats to both users and bystanders during use.
Vapes can assist in quitting by allowing users to select e-liquids with varying nicotine concentrations to control intake, though their vapor still poses health risks and is not entirely harmless.
Based on the World Health Organization's recommended "four-step nicotine replacement therapy" principle, smokers can gradually reduce nicotine intake using e-liquids of different concentrations: high concentration for 4 weeks at normal usage; medium for 8 weeks; low for 3 weeks; and nicotine-free for 1 week. This approach helps transition from physical dependence to psychological control.
For instance, a smoker consuming one pack of cigarettes daily, with high nicotine intake, might start with e-liquid matching their habitual level and progressively switch to lower concentrations to alleviate cravings.
However, Vape vapor releases aerosols containing glycols, aldehydes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, metals, and silicate particles, some of which are carcinogenic. A Swedish study indicated that Vape vapor has carcinogenic effects on rodents' bladders and lungs, and negative impacts on the heart. Added flavorings (e.g., chocolate, coffee, lemon, strawberry, mango) produce harmful substances upon heating, introducing uncertain health risks. Thus, while aiding cessation, Vapes require cautious use due to inherent harms.
Cigarettes have standardized nicotine and tar content, making it impossible for users to control intake, resulting in prolonged exposure to high levels of harmful substances and hindering harm reduction.
In China, for example, the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration sets limits for tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide, categorizing cigarettes as low-tar (≤10 mg/cigarette), medium-tar (≤15 mg), or high-tar (≤20 mg). Users ingest fixed amounts per cigarette, exposing themselves to tar, carbon monoxide, nicotine, and toxins regardless.
Sustained smoking ensures continuous exposure to these substances, with tar (5-15 mg/cigarette) causing cancer and staining, and carbon monoxide (20-30 mL/cigarette) impairing oxygen transport and accelerating atherosclerosis. Users cannot adjust products like with Vapes, making harm reduction difficult; cessation is essential for protection.
Only 5 simple components:
Through battery and atomizer action, produces non-toxic, harmless vapor!
Over 4,000 chemical components, including 51 known carcinogens.
Through combustion, produces large amounts of toxic smoke, harming everyone every moment.
In summary, both Vapes and cigarettes pose significant health hazards, albeit with differing characteristics. Cigarettes' combustion-generated tar, carbon monoxide, and other substances severely damage multiple bodily systems, including causing lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and fetal developmental issues, with secondhand smoke endangering others. Vapes lack tar but contain nicotine, flavorings, and heated aerosols that induce addiction, carcinogenicity, and respiratory damage, compounded by inconsistent product quality and safety risks.
To safeguard personal and public health, individuals should strive to quit both traditional cigarettes and Vapes. Methods include psychological reinforcement, professional assistance, and appropriate replacement therapies. Adopting healthy lifestyles—such as regular exercise and balanced nutrition—can help avoid these harms and promote well-being.
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