E-cigarettes 'contain higher levels of certain toxins than regular cigarettes

• U.S. researchers found vapour from e-cigarettes contains toxic element chromium and four times more nickel than found in normal cigarettes
• They were also found to contain lead, zinc and other toxic metals
•  World Health Organisation has called for e-cigarettes to be banned indoors and advertising stopped until industry provides evidence for claims
• British Medical Association has called for tighter regulation of the gadgets so they can't be aggressively marketed to minors
• BBC investigation found toxic chemical dialectyl in one brand of e-cigarettes, which when inhaled can lead to serious lung disease

E-cigarettes can contain higher amounts of certain toxins than regular cigarettes, according to U.S. scientists.

Researchers at the University of South California found vapour emitted by the gadgets contains the toxic element chromium, which is not found in traditional cigarettes, as well as four times more nickel than found in traditional tobacco.

The electronic replacements also contain lead, zinc and other toxic metals, although in lower levels than cigarettes.

Professor Constantinos Sioutas, from the University of South California said the raised levels of toxic metals found in electronic cigarettes are concerning, although overall his research found e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes.

He said: ‘Our results demonstrate that overall electronic cigarettes seem to be less harmful than regular cigarettes, but their elevated content of toxic metals such as nickel and chromium do raise concerns.’

Lead author of the study, Arian Saffari, added: 'The metal particles likely come from the cartridge of the e-cigarette devices themselves – which opens up the possibility that better manufacturing standards for the devices could reduce the quantity of metals in the smoke.

'Studies of this kind are necessary for implementing effective regulatory measures. E-cigarettes are so new, there just isn’t much research available on them yet.'

He said: ‘Our results demonstrate that overall electronic cigarettes seem to be less harmful than regular cigarettes, but their elevated content of toxic metals such as nickel and chromium do raise concerns.’

Lead author of the study, Arian Saffari, added: 'The metal particles likely come from the cartridge of the e-cigarette devices themselves – which opens up the possibility that better manufacturing standards for the devices could reduce the quantity of metals in the smoke.

'Studies of this kind are necessary for implementing effective regulatory measures. E-cigarettes are so new, there just isn’t much research available on them yet.'

REVEALED: LIQUID FOUND IN E-CIGARETTES LINKED TO SERIOUS LUNG DISEASE

E-cigarettes sold in the north east of England were found to contain a chemical called diacetyl, which can cause serious lung disease when inhaled

E-cigarettes sold in the north east of England were found to contain a chemical called diacetyl, which can cause serious lung disease when inhaled.

Diacetyl- used to add butterscotch flavour to liquid tobacco- is harmless to eat, but when inhaled is known to cause a serious condition called ‘popcorn lung’, or bronchiolitis obliterans. 

‘Popcorn lung’, which struck workers in popcorn factories who inhaled large amounts of diacetyl, is an irreversible disease which scars the lung and makes it impossible to breathe properly.

The e-cigarettes were being made by one of the country’s biggest e-cigarettes firms VIP, and have been withdrawn following an investigation by the BBC.

VIP have withdrawn the product, and Lynne White, head of retail for the company said VIP was investigating how this happened.

She told the BBC: ‘This is our first issue in five years. We sell millions of bottles a year. We are very sorry it has happened, we are investigating how it has happened.’

Dr Graham Burns, consultant physician in Respiratory Medicine at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust told the BBC that popcorn lung can sometimes be so severe it leads to a lung transplantation.

He said: ‘That particular chemical - diacetyl - is associated with an unusual but well-established lung condition called popcorn worker’s lung.’

‘It has been inhaled in significant quantities in people who worked in popcorn manufacturing factories.’

‘In those individuals it has caused a very serious lung condition, serious enough to warrant lung transplantation.’ 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2739610/E-cigarettes-contain-higher-levels-certain-toxins-regular-cigarettes.html

The Health Claims Of E-Cigarettes Are Going Up In Smoke

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The sales pitch of electronic cigarette manufacturers seemed too good to be true. Could nicotine addicts around the world really get their fix whilst dodging the health risks of puffing away on cancer sticks?
Sadly for smokers and “vapers”, the answer is far from clear. Over the past week, new evidence has emerged which suggests that E-Cigarettes can be dangerous too – in some cases carrying higher amounts of certain toxins than the blazing tobacco of old.
Researchers at the University of South California have found that although E-Cigarettes are less harmful than ordinary smokes, the vapour emitted by the gadgets contains the toxic element chromium, which is not found in traditional cigarettes, as well as levels of nickel four times higher than in real tobacco. The electronic replacements also contain lead, zinc and other toxic metals, although in lower levels than cigarettes.

Two electronic cigarette models. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Our results demonstrate that overall electronic cigarettes seem to be less harmful than regular cigarettes, but their elevated content of toxic metals such as nickel and chromium do raise concerns,” said Constantinos Sioutas, professor at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.
There is a bit of good news for reforming smokers, as E-Cigarettes contain virtually no detectable polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are known to cause cancer. The researchers also said the metal particles were likely to come from the cartridge of the E-Cigarette devices, opening up the possibility that a change in the production process could eliminate the dangerous chemicals.
But this isn’t the only bit of bad news for vape inhalers. In the UK, the BBC reported that E-Cigarette liquid sold in the north east of England was found to contain a chemical called diacetyl, which is used to add butterscotch flavor to liquid tobacco.
Whilst this substance is harmless to eat, it is extremely dangerous to inhale. The chemical is known to cause a serious condition called popcorn lung, or bronchiolitis obliterans, an irreversible disease which scars the lung and makes it impossible to breathe properly. This illness has struck workers in popcorn factories, who are known to breathe in vast quantities of diacetyl, as well as ordinary people who eat a lot of popcorn.
Commenting on the report, Dr Graham Burns, a respiratory expert at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, said the illness is often “serious enough to warrant lung transplantation”.
VP, the firm which manufactured the cigarettes, immediately withdrew the liquid from sale, and Lynne White, head of retail distribution, admitted there were concerns about inhaling the liquid on a long-term basis.
“We are very sorry it has happened, we are investigating how it has happened,” she added.
“Because of the small amount the vaper would actually consume it was deemed in the short term there would be no health concerns.
“Long-term yes there could well be, however we decided it was a withdrawal rather than a recall of the product and that was based on Ecita’s (Electronic Cigarette Industry Trade Association) guidelines.”
But for many health-conscious people, the damage is likely to have been done. Once upon a time, the world didn’t know about the many terrible effects of cigarettes. It was only after a concerted campaign by scientists, doctors and activists that the risks began to be publicized and governments began to act on them. The long term implications of switching to E-Cigarettes have not yet been tested, so anyone using the devices has to ask themselves if they are willing to take the risk of becoming a guinea pig.

Marlboro Cigarettes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The World Health Organisation has issued a report advising that use of E-Cigarettes should be banned indoors and and all advertising stopped until the emerging industry produces “convincing supporting scientific evidence and obtains regulatory approval”.

Backing this call, the British Medical Association board of science deputy chair Ram Moorth said “tighter controls are needed to ensure their use does not undermine current tobacco control measures and reinforces the normalcy of smoking behaviour”.
‘There is a need for research to understand the health impacts of E-Cigarettes on both the user and bystanders, and it is vital that the sale of e-cigarettes is appropriately regulated to ensure they are not sold to minors, and are not aggressively marketed to young people as tobacco was in the past,” he continued.
“Any health claims must be substantiated by robust independent scientific evidence to ensure that the consumer is fully informed regarding potential benefits and risks of E-Cigarettes.”
Are you willing to take the chance and keep on vaping?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasperhamill/2014/08/31/the-health-claims-of-e-cigarettes-are-going-up-in-smoke/