E-cigarettes May be More Harmful than Standard Cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes - smokeless devices marketed as a way to deliver nicotine without the harmful effects of tobacco smoke - may be just as unsafe as the products they mimic, officials with the Food and Drug Administration said last week, The Baltimore Sun reports.

Photo: E-cigarettes May be More Harmful than Standard Cigarettes

E-cigarettes, first produced in China in 2004, are battery-operated devices designed to look and feel like cigarettes, right down to the glowing tip. They contain cartridges which are filled with chemicals and varying doses of nicotine, from high doses to no nicotine at all.

They’re available in different flavors, such as chocolate and mint, which make them appealing to kids and teens. These products are also easy for kids and teens to buy – they’re readily available online and in shopping malls. And at this time, e-cigarettes do not contain any health warnings, such as those on FDA-approved nicotine replacement products or conventional cigarettes, ACS News Center reports.

However Study by FDA showed that electronic cigarettes contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol. Hence contrary to the established belief these electronic devices are more harmful than standard cigarettes.

Research team tested 19 varieties of electronic cigarette. Researchers found that the devices can deliver a dose of synthetic nicotine with unknown safety.

Deborah Arnott, director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) said: "Cigarettes contain thousands of different chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic and are particularly dangerous when burnt, and kill half all long-term smokers."

Researchers warned that electronic cigarettes can lead to nicotine addiction, TopNews New Zealand reports.