E-cigarettes equally toxic as tobacco, contain heavy metals

Have you resorted to e-cigarettes to help you quit smoking? It's high time that you stop smoking them. A study has suggested that electronic cigarettes may not be that safe after all and may damage lung cells.

E-cigarettes create free radicals which cause inflammation in the lungs and are equally toxic as tobacco. These radicals are created when the heating element in the cigarette is activated which turns the e-liquid into aerosol particles or vapors which act like cigarette smoke. This smoke contains various carcinogens and heavy metals that are so tiny that they can get lodged way into the lung tissues and cells and can also enter the blood stream. (Read: Are electronic cigarettes actually safe for you?)

Some flavoured e-juices (particularly cinnamon) create more stress and toxicity on lung tissue.

Researchers observed in the laboratory that human lung cells exposed to e-cigarette aerosols released various inflammation biomarkers. Mice exposed to e-cigarettes with classic tobacco flavouring also demonstrated signs of pulmonary inflammation. (Read: E-cigarettes won t help you quit smoking )

'Our research affirms that e-cigarettes may pose significant health risks and should be investigated further. It seems that every day, a new e-cigarette product is launched without knowing the harmful health effects of these products,' Rahman said.

The toxic metals and oxidants from e-cigarettes raise safety concerns as well as potential pollution hazards from second-hand exposures and disposal of e-cigarette waste. The study found that dripping e-liquids or e-juices to produce vapours likely generates a larger dose of toxins to the lungs. (Read: Need guidelines on e-cigarette: WHO)

The findings are published in the journal PLOS ONE.

Image source: Getty Images

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