E-cigarette users often tend to reassure themselves by telling themselves that vaping is much less harmful than traditional tobacco. After all, e-liquid manufacturers, with flavors such as strawberry or piña colada, present their products as a seemingly harmless alternative to cigarettes. But what are the real health dangers, especially for people exposed to passive vaping?
Of course, e-cigarettes do not emit all the toxic substances present in tobacco smoke, as explained by Professor Hans-Jürgen Nentwich, a health expert and board member of the Professional Association of Paediatricians and Adolescent Physicians (BVKJ) in Germany. However, this does not mean that vaping is safe, especially for children who involuntarily inhale these vapours.
One of the main concerns is the lack of scientific data on the long-term effects of vaping, both active and passive. The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) highlights this lack of evidence on the long-term consequences of inhaling e-cigarette vapors. However, initial studies show the presence of harmful substances in these vapors, such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, both of which are classified as carcinogenic. Although their concentration is probably lower than in tobacco smoke, this does not mean that it is safe to vape in the presence of other people. Indeed, no level of carcinogens is considered safe.
Professor Nentwich, who is also a paediatrician, therefore advises parents to be cautious. He recommends never smoking or vaping in enclosed spaces where children are present, whether in a home, car or other places they regularly frequent. Children's lungs are still developing and are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of vapours. This advice is particularly relevant for children with asthma, as exposure to e-cigarette vapour increases the risk of asthma attacks. One study found that children with asthma who were exposed to vaping at home were more likely to develop severe symptoms.
However, even without asthma, children who passively inhale these vapors absorb toxic substances. Another study cited by pediatricians measured the levels of harmful substances in the blood, saliva and breath of children aged four to twelve who were regularly exposed to passive vaping. The results showed higher concentrations of these substances in these children compared to those who were not exposed.
