Traditional cigarette substitute e-cigarette is not safe
March 16, 2022
A study published by researchers at the University of Athens in Greece shows that electronic cigarettes that are considered as a substitute for traditional ordinary cigarettes may still cause harm to the lungs of smokers.
Athens researchers announced this at the annual meeting of the European Respiratory Society in Vienna. The European Respiratory Society "does not advocate that people use such products."
E-cigarettes have the same appearance and similar taste as ordinary cigarettes, and they can exhale white mist just like regular cigarettes. Since e-cigarettes do not produce harmful ingredients such as tar and suspended particles, unlike ordinary cigarettes, and do not cause second-hand smoke pollution, manufacturers claim that this is a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes.
In order to verify the safety of electronic cigarettes, Athens researchers randomly selected 24 smokers and 8 non-smokers to conduct the trial. Some of them have normal respiratory systems, while others have respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma. The researchers asked them to use e-cigarettes for 10 minutes, and then measure their vital data such as respiratory vitals. As a result, it was found that all participants who participated in the test, whether or not they were smokers, showed increased airway resistance.
Professor Grazino, chairman of the European Respiratory Society Tobacco Control Committee, who is the host of the trial, said: "This study helps us understand the potential dangers of products such as e-cigarettes." But he also said, "More testing is still needed." To understand whether the harm has a long-term effect, "European Respiratory Society does not advocate the use of such products until more evidence is available."
