OSEA Safety Blog

About 9 million people in the United States use e-cigarettes, also called vape pens. This may be because they tell you it is healthier than smoking cigarettes, or because you are trying to quit smoking actual cigarettes. While vaping is healthier than smoking a cigarette, it is not healthy for you. E-cigarettes contain nicotine which, when smoked, can cause increased blood pressure and they spike your adrenal glands. This can increase your risk for a heart attack. Here are some facts you should keep in mind before picking up an e-cigarette:

• E-cigarettes include ingredients that are more than just flavored water vapor. They include flavorants that can cause lung disease along with heavy metals such as lead, cancer causing chemicals.
• E-cigarettes pose the same risk of addiction as the main ingredient is nicotine which is an extremely addictive substance. This can be very destructive for teens which are now being marketed too more heavily.
• Secondhand “smoke” is still a risk despite how fast the smoke disintegrates. According to the Surgeon General, the aerosol in an e-cigarette contains nicotine, very small particles that can get stuck in your lungs when inhaled, chemicals linked to lung disease; also the same compounds found in car exhaust, and heavy metals which even include lead!