Smoking: The controversy behind e-cigarettes
According to a recent English study, the e-cigarette is 5 to 15 times as carcinogenic as the traditional cigarette. These results have created discord within the scientific community. Here are the facts.
It is not the first time that alarms have been raised by researchers about the possible dangers of e-cigarettes. In the last study to appear in the New England Journal of Medicine, scientists worried about the excessive presence of formaldehyde in the e-cigarette vapour. This compound is classified as highly carcinogenic by the International Agency of the Cancer research.
WHAT DOES THIS STUDY SAY?
The liquid contained in the e-cigarette contains propylene glycol, some glycerol, chemical aromas and, possibly, nicotine. Problem: when the propylene glycol and the glycerol are warmed in too high-temperatures, we observe the formation of formaldehyde. According to those in charge of the study, when an e-cigarette possesses a 5-volt battery, the consumer inhales on average 14.4 mg of formaldehyde on a daily basis. On the other hand, when the battery is 3.3 volts, the molecules of formaldehyde are undetectable. The team concludes that to inhale it would be 5 to 15 times as carcinogenic as smoking a packet of cigarettes a day for a lifetime!
WHAT DO THE DEFENDERS OF THE E-CIGARETTE SAY?
They point towards the study’s weaknesses, as well as the lack of step back by their colleagues. Indeed, e-cigarettes containing a 5-volt battery are rare because the warmed smoke has a rather unpleasant taste. Besides, the classic cigarette also contains some tar, carbon monoxide and other carcinogenic substances that are not found in e-cigarettes.
the VERDICT?
The e-cigarette always seems less dangerous than the traditional cigarette. We will continue to watch the various studies on the subject and, if possible, eliminate any dependence.
Maureen Diament
