The long-term health effects of
e-cigarettes and vaporizers used to consume tobacco are unknown. Dentists play
an important role in educating patients about the physical and oral health
risks of vaping.
The term vaping refers to the act of inhaling and exhaling an aerosol-using product such as an electronic cigarette.
VAPING - HOW IT WORKS
Contrary to cigarette smoking vaping does not require burning. Electrical power from a battery heats a liquid solution, which in turn gets vaporized. The user breathes in the condensed vapour – the aerosol through a mouthpiece in the vaping device.
VAPING DEVICES
There are two kinds of vaping devices:
- Open, that can be refilled.
- Closed, that can’t be refilled.
The devices come in
many shapes and sizes and appearing like USB drives or pens.
Their various names include:
- mods
- vapes
- sub-ohms
- vape pens
- e-hookahs
- tank systems
- electronic cigarettes
/ e-cigarettes
- electronic nicotine
delivery systems (ENDS)
They may also be known by various brand names.
The amount of
substance exposure (including nicotine)
to a person vapes can be affected by:
- Device settings
- Device battery power
- Type of vaping device
- Combination of internal components
- Type of vaping liquid and amount of nicotine
- User behaviour patterns and experience with vaping
VAPING SUBSTANCES
Most vaping substances are liquids, but wax and herbs are
also available.
Typical Ingredients include:
- Glycerol
- Propylene glycol
- Nicotine
- Flavours (menthol, popcorn, cinnamon, vanilla, fruity flavours
etc.)
CHEMICALS PRESENT IN VAPING LIQUIDS
·
Compounds with chemicals
and blends of chemicals to simulate various flavours.
·
Higher power and
temperature settings = higher level of chemicals in the vapour.
·
These are the same
chemicals used to flavour foods and may not be safe to breathe into the lungs.
HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS AND EFFECTS
·
When heated, the
reaction can create formaldehydes like nickel, tin, aluminum that can be
carried within the vapour.
·
Vaping can create
nicotine dependence in persons not previously using nicotine.
·
Vaping increases exposure
to harmful chemicals like glycerine and propylene glycol.
·
Using vaping products
with higher power and temperature settings can produce more chemicals.
·
While there have been
no reported cases, there is concern that inhaling heated diacetyl, a flavouring
chemical used in vaping products, could cause popcorn lung.
