Irish users of E-Cigarettes had their fears about the health risks surrounding the tobacco alternative increased this week.
New research from the University of South California has shown that although the hugely popular E-Cigarettes may be less harmful than your ordinary run-of-the-mill cigarette, there are still some major health issues to take into consideration.
The USC research primarily revealed that the vapour which is released by E-Cigarettes contains the toxic element chromium, coupled with extremely high levels of nickel. These finds are cause for concern according to Professor Constantinos Sioutas, who stated:
“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.”
E-cigarettes have become a popular alternative for smokers who are attempting to kick the habit
Due to the fact that E-Cigarettes are a relatively new phenomenon, there is not much research on their effects to date. Thus, the World Health Organization (WHO) also issued a report recommending that E-Cigarettes should be banned from indoor use. They have also advised that stricter advertising and sale regulations be put in place until there is ‘convincing supporting scientific evidence’ and ‘obtains regulatory approval’.
