CNJ+ September 2023

THE DANGERS OF SECOND-HAND VAPING By: Nazli Mohideen

Due to the product’s nicotine content, breathing in the emission from a vape has led to a concerning trend known as second-hand vaping, according to an article published by Hackensack Meridian Health. In fact, second-hand vaping can result in a multitude of health-related complications like cancer, asthma and issues relating to the heart and lung, an infographic from the American Thoracic Society shared. “While we are still learning about the effects of aerosols produced from e-cigarettes, the initial research suggests that the aerosol produced is not safe,” the infographic said. “They expose non-users to harmful and poten tially cancer-causing chemicals.” According to an article published by Medical News Today, younger indi viduals are more susceptible to the dangers of second-hand vaping. Even pets can experience respiratory issues because of aerosols produced by the vape lingering on household surfaces, the article said. “Researchers found that using e-cigarettes indoors increases air pollution in the home. E-cigarettes increase particulate matter in the room in which people smoke them,” the article said. “Inhaling particulate matter may cause health problems.” The best course of action to avoid these problems is to quit vaping alto

gether, said the American Lung Association. Only a select few states have banned the use of electronic cigarettes along side the use of traditional cigarettes, and the American Lung Association hopes other states will follow suit. “Now that more and more public spaces and workplaces are going smoke free, it’s important to include e-cigarettes under smokefree laws, to protect everyone from breathing in secondhand e-cigarette emissions,” the associ ation said. “The aerosol is a cocktail of chemicals that’s not safe for anyone to inhale.” Adrienne Santos-Longhurst, writer for Healthline, said if an individual chooses to vape, they should opt to vape outdoors as opposed to an enclosed space like a home or car. She also said to avoid flavored vapes as they have been linked to cases of severe lung damage. It is important to be aware of the consequences that come with vaping since the people using the vape are not the only ones who will have to suffer from them. “Secondhand vape may seem like no big deal, but don’t let those sweet aromas fool you,” Santos-Longhurst said. “The aerosol exhaled from vap ing contains a lot of the same chemicals that have been resulting in serious health consequences for people who vape.”

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