Smoking vs Vaping - Which Is Worse?

Summary

The debate between cigarettes and vapes centers on health risks. Cigarettes, with a long history and well-documented harms, contain nicotine and over 600 chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic. Vaping, a newer alternative, involves inhaling vaporized nicotine and other substances, which also poses health risks despite fewer carcinogens. The script explores the history, chemical composition, and potential dangers of both, concluding that while vaping may be slightly less harmful, neither is safe, and the best approach is to avoid both.

Takeaways

• 🚬 Cigarettes have a long history of use and contain nicotine, a neurotoxin that is highly addictive and can be poisonous in large doses.
• 🌿 Tobacco plants are part of the nightshade family and have been used by indigenous Americans for over 12,000 years for various purposes.
• 🔥 The curing process of tobacco introduces over 600 chemicals, many of which are poisonous and can cause serious health issues like cancer.
• 🍃 Vaping, introduced in 2003 by Hon Lik, offers an alternative to smoking by vaporizing nicotine, but it's not without its own risks.
• 🌫️ Vape juice typically contains propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, nicotine, and flavorings, some of which can be harmful when inhaled.
• 🏥 The long-term health effects of vaping are not fully understood due to its relatively recent introduction, and it may still carry significant health risks.
• 🔎 There is limited evidence to suggest that vaping can help people quit smoking, and many vapers continue to use traditional cigarettes.
• 🤧 Both first and secondhand exposure to cigarette smoke and vape aerosols can have detrimental health effects, including increased risk of stroke and heart disease.
• 🚭 Public health policies often restrict or ban smoking and vaping in indoor spaces and public areas to protect non-users from potential harm.
• ⚠️ The World Health Organization advises that the safest approach is to avoid using both tobacco products and e-cigarettes due to health risks.

Q & A

What is the primary difference between cigarettes and vapes in terms of their smell and public perception?

Cigarettes are described as having a foul smell and are well-established with years of research behind their effects, while vapes are considered newcomers with nice-smelling clouds of nicotine that can mask their dangerous nature, making them a crowd favorite.

What are the native uses of tobacco plants among indigenous people of the Americas?

Tobacco has been used by indigenous people of the Americas for over 12,000 years for medicinal, recreational, and spiritual purposes. It is an important part of religious rites, political agreements, offerings to gods, gifts to tribal leaders, and purification rituals.

What are some of the negative health effects associated with nicotine poisoning?

Nicotine poisoning can cause mild effects like nausea, lightheadedness, nightmares, uncontrollable hiccuping, and flatulence, and severe effects such as vasoconstriction, heart palpitations, diarrhea, severe anxiety, and even death.

How do the chemicals in cigarettes affect the human body, and which ones are particularly harmful?

The chemicals in cigarettes, including ammonia, acetone, methanol, butane, and carbon monoxide, can cause a range of health issues. These chemicals, when inhaled, can lead to cancer, stroke, heart disease, osteoporosis, vision problems, and diabetes. At least 69 of these chemicals are proven to be carcinogenic.

What is the role of the curing process in the production of cigarettes and its impact on health?

The curing process of tobacco involves drying the leaves in the sun and adding chemicals to improve the smoking experience. However, these chemicals are also poisonous and can lead to serious health issues, negating the safety benefits of the reduced nicotine potency from sun drying.

What is the composition of the average cigarette, and how does it affect the body when smoked?

The average cigarette contains over 600 chemicals, including ammonia, acetone, methanol, butane, and carbon monoxide, which combine and remix into more than 7000 new compounds when burned. At least 69 of these are carcinogenic, and many can cause various health issues such as stroke, heart disease, and lung problems.

What is the potential health risk of second-hand smoke, and how does it compare to the risks of third-hand smoke?

Second-hand smoke can increase the risk of stroke by 20 to 30% and heart disease by 25 to 30%. Third-hand smoke refers to carcinogens left on surfaces after smoking, which can also pose a health risk, although more research is needed to fully understand its impact.

Who invented the first commercially available electronic cigarette, and what was the motivation behind its invention?

The first commercially available electronic cigarette was invented in 2003 by pharmacist Hon Lik. He invented it as an alternative to cigarettes to help people quit smoking, motivated by his own struggle to quit and his father's death from lung cancer.

What are the typical components of a vape device and how do they function?

A typical vape device consists of a mouthpiece, a heating element, a microprocessor, a battery, and a cartridge loaded with e-liquid or 'vape juice'. The atomizer contains a heating element and wicking material that vaporizes the e-liquid, which is then inhaled.

What is the controversy surrounding the health effects of vaping, and what are some of the potential risks?

The health effects of vaping are not fully understood, and while it may contain less nicotine and fewer harmful chemicals than cigarettes, there are still potential risks. Ingredients in vape juice, when vaporized, could combine to create toxic substances, and some flavorings, like diacetyl, can cause serious lung conditions.

Does vaping help people quit smoking, and what is the general medical advice regarding vaping?

Most vapers continue to smoke cigarettes even after they start vaping, and there is limited evidence to suggest that vaping can help people quit smoking. Medical professionals generally advise that if it's not air, it shouldn't be going in your lungs, as inhaling substances can disrupt lung function and defense mechanisms.

Outlines

00:00

🚬 The Cigarette Conundrum

This paragraph delves into the longstanding debate between cigarettes and vapes, highlighting the historical and cultural significance of tobacco use. It discusses the origins of tobacco plants, their native range, and their role in indigenous American cultures. The paragraph also touches on the European colonization and the subsequent global spread of tobacco, along with the early medical endorsements that have since been discredited due to the well-documented health risks associated with smoking. The health effects of tobacco smoking are outlined, emphasizing the addictive nature of nicotine, the toxicity of the plant, and the dangerous chemicals introduced during the curing process of tobacco leaves.

05:01

🌪️ The Dangers of Smoking

The second paragraph expands on the detrimental health effects of smoking, detailing the poisonous nature of nicotine and the myriad of chemicals found in cigarettes, many of which are carcinogenic. It discusses the risks of various health conditions, including cancer, stroke, heart disease, and respiratory issues, attributed to smoking. The paragraph also addresses the issue of second-hand smoke, explaining how it poses significant health risks to non-smokers. Additionally, it introduces the concept of third-hand smoke and its potential dangers. The paragraph transitions into a discussion about the rise of vaping as an alternative to smoking, questioning its perceived safety and the presence of nicotine in most vape juices.

10:05

🌿 A Brief History of Vaping

This paragraph provides a historical overview of vaping, starting with the invention of the first electronic cigarette by pharmacist Hon Lik. It outlines the evolution of e-cigarettes into a diverse market with various designs and the rapid growth of vaping culture. The paragraph also discusses the lack of regulation and the emergence of bootleg e-liquids, which led to a significant outbreak of lung injuries, now known as E-Cigarette or Vaping Associated Lung Injury (EVALI). The primary cause of EVALI is identified as vitamin E acetate, a compound used in some vape juices and linked to adverse lung effects when inhaled.

🍹 The Composition of Vape Juice

The final paragraph scrutinizes the ingredients found in vape juice, which typically include propylene glycol or vegetable glycerine as a base, nicotine, and various flavorings and additives. It raises concerns about the potential health risks of inhaling substances that are safe to consume, such as diacetyl and cinnamaldehyde, which have been linked to serious lung conditions. The paragraph also discusses the broader implications of vaping on lung health, including the disruption of lung cilia function, which is crucial for defending against infections. The conclusion suggests that while vaping may contain fewer harmful substances than traditional cigarettes, it is not without risks, and the long-term effects are not yet fully understood.

Keywords

💡Nicotine

Nicotine is a neurotoxin found in tobacco plants that acts as a stimulant and painkiller. It is highly addictive, which makes quitting smoking difficult. In the video, it is discussed as a common component in both cigarettes and vapes, highlighting its addictive nature and the health risks associated with its consumption. The script mentions that nicotine poisoning can cause a range of symptoms from nausea to severe anxiety and even death.

💡Tobacco

Tobacco refers to the plants in the Nicotiana genus, which are used for their leaves containing nicotine. The script discusses the historical and cultural significance of tobacco, its introduction to Europe, and its widespread use despite the known health risks. Tobacco is the primary ingredient in cigarettes and is also used in various forms in traditional and religious practices.

💡Vaping

Vaping refers to the act of inhaling vapor from an electronic cigarette or vape device. The script contrasts vaping with traditional cigarette smoking, discussing the perception of vaping as a cleaner and less harmful alternative. However, it also points out that most vape juices contain nicotine and can still pose health risks, similar to smoking.

💡E-liquid

E-liquid, also known as vape juice, is the substance used in vaping devices. It typically contains propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, nicotine, and flavorings. The script explains that while e-liquids may seem harmless, the act of inhaling these substances can still lead to health issues, as they can create toxic compounds when vaporized.

💡Carcinogenic

Carcinogenic refers to substances or compounds that can cause cancer. The video discusses how the chemicals in cigarette smoke and potentially in vape juice are carcinogenic. It mentions that at least 69 chemicals in cigarette smoke are proven to be carcinogenic, and there is a concern that vaping could also lead to the formation of carcinogenic substances.

💡Second-hand smoke

Second-hand smoke is the smoke that is exhaled by a smoker or released from the burning end of a cigarette, which others can inhale. The script explains that second-hand smoke is a significant health risk, causing an increased risk of stroke and heart disease. It also raises the question of whether similar risks apply to secondhand vape aerosol.

💡Vasoconstriction

Vasoconstriction is the narrowing of blood vessels, which can restrict blood flow. The video mentions that nicotine can cause vasoconstriction, which in turn can lead to various health issues such as stroke, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. This term is used to illustrate the impact of smoking on the circulatory system.

💡Tar

Tar is a sticky black substance that can accumulate in the lungs due to smoking. It is formed from the combination of chemical compounds and burnt particulates in cigarette smoke. The script describes how tar can cause long-term breathing problems and is a significant health risk associated with smoking.

💡E-Cigarette or Vaping Associated Lung Injury (EVALI)

EVALI is a lung injury associated with vaping, primarily caused by an additive called vitamin E acetate. The script discusses the outbreak of EVALI cases and the potential dangers of inhaling various chemicals and additives found in vape juices, which can have adverse effects on lung functionality.

💡Cilia

Cilia are hair-like structures in the lungs that help to move bacteria and other particles out of the lungs. The script explains that certain chemicals, such as cinnamaldehyde and formaldehyde, can have a paralytic effect on lung cilia, impairing their function and leaving the lungs vulnerable to infection. This term is used to illustrate the potential harm of inhaling substances found in vape juices.

Highlights

The debate between the health effects of vaping and smoking continues.

Cigarettes have a long history and well-known negative health effects.

Vapes are a relatively new phenomenon with less research on their health impacts.

Tobacco plants contain nicotine, which has been used by indigenous Americans for over 12,000 years.

Europeans discovered tobacco and started using it for medicinal purposes and recreationally.

Nicotine is a potent stimulant and painkiller but is also highly addictive and poisonous.

Cigarettes contain over 600 chemicals, many of which are poisonous and can cause cancer.

Smoking leads to an increased risk of various health issues, including stroke, heart disease, and lung problems.

Second-hand smoke is a significant health risk, even in smaller amounts.

Vaping was invented in 2003 as an alternative to smoking, aiming to mimic the sensation without the harmful effects.

Vapes work by heating e-liquid to create an inhalable vapor, which may seem less harmful than smoke.

Bootleg e-liquids have been linked to lung injuries, highlighting the lack of regulation in the vaping industry.

Vape juice typically contains propylene glycol, nicotine, and flavorings, some of which may be harmful when inhaled.

Certain flavorings, like diacetyl, can cause serious lung conditions if inhaled.

The long-term health effects of vaping are not fully understood, and it may still pose significant risks.

Most vapers do not quit smoking cigarettes after they start vaping, contrary to some claims.

The World Health Organization advises against the use of both tobacco products and e-cigarettes.

Transcripts

The eternal vape vs cigarette debate is still  raging on. In the red corner you have cigarettes,  

the established foul smelling way to intake  nicotine with years of research behind its  

effects. In the blue corner you have the  newcomer, vapes. With little research  

behind their effects and nice smelling clouds  of nicotine to mask their dangerous nature,  

they’ve become a crowd favourite. But  which alternative is worse for your health? 

First, let's take a look at smoking. You can  smoke a lot of things, obviously, but since  

we here at The Infographics Show don't want to  condone anything illegal, let's assume 'smoking'  

means regular tobacco cigarettes. Tobacco is the  common name for plants in the nicotiana genus,  

a type of leafy herbaceous plant native to North  and South America, though one tobacco subspecies,  

Nicotiana suaveolens, is found on the east coast  of Australia. Tobacco plants are a member of the  

nightshade family, a group of plants that also  includes tomatoes and eggplants. The leaves  

contain a type of neurotoxin called nicotine,  which acts as a natural insecticide and makes the  

plant unappealing to most plant-eating animals. But, as we've seen throughout history with things  

like magic mushrooms and ghost peppers, a plant  being poisonous and tasting unpleasant has never  

deterred humans from putting it in their mouths.  Tobacco leaves have always been incredibly popular  

among the indigenous people of the Americas, with  archaeological evidence suggesting that medicinal,  

recreational, and spiritual use of the plant  dates back over 12 thousand years. Even today,  

tobacco is an important part of religious rites  and political agreements for native americans.  

You've probably seen the native characters in  cowboy movies smoking peace pipes before. Well,  

that's only one ceremonial use of tobacco in  native american culture- it's also given as  

an offering to the gods, or as a gift to tribal  leaders, and among the Cree and Ojibwe people,  

it's a crucial part of the purification  rituals performed in a sweat lodge. 

When Europeans first colonized the new world,  tobacco was one of the many discoveries they  

brought back with them, and it was an instant  hit. Like the Native Americans, Europeans  

took to using it as a stimulant, decongestant,  and topical painkiller, but they also started  

smoking it recreationally. Doctors raved about  its effects in medical journals- one Spanish  

doctor even claimed it could cure 36 different  illnesses in 1571. In the 1600s, there was even  

a popular song by Tobias Hume called "Tobacco  is like love." But, like a lot of things that  

were used medicinally in the 1600s, tobacco's  supposed benefits would later be shown to come  

with some pretty serious side effects. You're not  watching this video from the 1600s, presumably,  

so we probably don't need to tell you that smoking  tobacco is actually really, really bad for you. 

So, let's go through all the negative health  effects of tobacco smoking. First off - while  

nicotine is a very effective stimulant and  painkiller, it's extremely poisonous if consumed  

in large enough doses. And, considering that  the leaf of Nicotiana tabacum, the tobacco plant  

most often used to make cigarettes, contains  about 20000 parts per million of nicotine,  

it's very possible to feel some of these effects  if you smoke enough. On the mild end nicotine  

poisoning can cause nausea, lightheadedness,  nightmares, uncontrollable hiccuping,  

and flatulence. On the severe end, it can cause  vasoconstriction (the shrinking of blood vessels),  

heart palpitations, diarrhea, severe anxiety,  and even death. That's bad enough on its own,  

but when you combine that with the fact  that nicotine is also highly addictive,  

you've got a potentially lethal cocktail. Even  if you decide to quit, you're still not out of  

the woods- you can still get nicotine poisoning  from chewing nicotine gum and topical patches that  

smokers use to wean themselves off cigarettes. Worse than the nicotine itself is the slew of  

other chemicals introduced into the cigarette by  the curing process. Tobacco has to be dried in the  

sun before being sold- this decreases the potency  of the nicotine and makes it safer to consume.  

However, that decreased potency is quickly  canceled out by the chemicals that are added  

during the curing process. These chemicals are  meant to improve the smoking experience by doing  

things like helping the tobacco and cigarette  wrapper burn at a more even rate and helping  

the body process the nicotine, but most of these  chemicals are also poisonous in their own right. 

According to the American Lung Association,  among the 600 chemicals that make up your  

average cigarette are ammonia, acetone,  methanol, butane, and carbon monoxide.  

Some of those chemicals might sound familiar, so  let's quickly elaborate- ammonia is one of the  

chemicals that your body flushes out when you pee,  and it's typically also used to bleach hair and as  

a component in explosives. Acetone is commonly  available as a paint remover. Butane is highly  

flammable and normally sold as barbecue fuel.  Carbon Monoxide isn't really used for anything,  

but it's a byproduct of gas stoves and fireplaces  that is so toxic you rarely hear about it outside  

of the sentence 'make sure to replace the  batteries in your carbon monoxide detector'. 

Cigarettes also can contain formaldehyde, a  preservative used to embalm dead bodies and  

museum specimens. These chemicals are already  pretty scary, but the addition of fire to the  

equation makes things even more sketchy as it  causes those 600 chemicals to combine and remix  

into more than 7000 new compounds. At least 69  of these chemicals are proven to be carcinogenic,  

which is just a fancy way of saying that they  cause cancer. One of these compounds is known  

as free-base nicotine, which reaches your brain  much faster than normal nicotine when inhaled. 

In addition to an increased risk for pretty  much every type of cancer, smoking also  

increases your risk of stroke, heart disease,  osteoporosis, vision problems, and diabetes.  

That's a result of the vasoconstriction we  mentioned earlier- when your veins shrink,  

oxygen can't be distributed through your body  as efficiently, and that leads to a whole host  

of chronic health conditions. One of the most  gruesome side effects of smoking is the fact that  

a lot of those chemical compounds stick around  in your lungs even after you've exhaled. These  

compounds bind together with burnt particulates  that enter your lungs along with the smoke,  

combining together into a sticky black substance  called Tar, which can seriously clog up your  

lungs and cause long-term breathing problems. Another big health risk of smoking tobacco  

is second-hand smoke. This is the reason why  smoking indoors is banned in most places, and  

public smoking is restricted to specific places.  Once there's a lit cigarette in an enclosed area,  

all those fun chemicals dissipate into the air,  meaning that if you smoke indoors, you expose  

everyone around you to the same chemicals that  you're putting into your own body. Obviously,  

it's in a much smaller amount, but it still can  be a significant health risk. Studies have shown  

that repeated exposure to second-hand smoke  can increase the risk of stroke by 20 to 30%,  

and increase the risk of heart disease by  25 to 30%. And if that wasn't bad enough,  

a study published in the National Library of  Medicine has suggested that there might even be  

such a thing as third-hand smoke. It sounds crazy,  but it's true- according to the researchers, you  

can even be exposed to carcinogens left behind on  surfaces that someone has recently smoked around. 

So, yeah, your school's health class teacher  wasn't lying, and those scary PSAs you saw  

on YouTube weren't exaggerating- smoking is  actually that bad for you. No wonder so many  

people now are quitting smoking and switching to  vapes. It's so much cleaner and less addictive,  

and- oh, most vape juice still contains nicotine?  Even some of the ones that advertise themselves  

as nicotine-free? Well, that's a bummer.  Already, that's a mark against vaping, since  

everything we already said about the nicotine in  cigarettes is also true for the majority of vapes. 

The history of vaping is much shorter than the  history of cigarettes. While tobacco companies had  

been researching nicotine vaporizers and smokeless  alternatives to cigarettes since the early 60's,  

the first commercially available electronic  cigarette was invented in 2003 by pharmacist  

Hon Lik. Hon was a heavy smoker, but after his  father's death from lung cancer, he decided to  

quit. But, like a lot of people, he struggled  to quit. In 2001, he had the idea to patent an  

electronic alternative to cigarettes that would  vaporize nicotine and give people trying to quit  

something to mimic the sensation of holding a  cigarette. Hon had lofty goals for his invention,  

hoping that someday it would replace cigarettes  entirely. Unfortunately, it seems that might not  

work out. As of the writing of this video, Hon  Lik has still not successfully quit smoking. 

Since their invention in 2003, e-cigarettes,  now more commonly known as 'vapes',  

have evolved into a variety of styles ranging  from those designed to look like cigars or pipes  

to more futuristic designs that can cost up to  200 dollars. Regardless of what they look like,  

most vapes work the same way. They have a  mouthpiece, a heating element, a microprossessor,  

a battery, and a cartridge, which is loaded  with e-liquid or 'vape juice'. The atomizer  

contains a heating element and a wicking material  that draws the juice out of the cartridge where  

it gets vaporized by the heating element. hence  the name. Once the liquid is vaporized it can be  

inhaled just like regular cigarette smoke. On  the face of it, that does sound a lot cleaner  

than smoking. It's basically just breathing in  steam with a bit of nicotine in it, right? Well,  

just like with cigarettes, it's not just  the nicotine that you have to worry about. 

Vaping really took off in the West in the 2010s,  when it evolved into its own subculture. The  

explosion of popularity was so fast that, despite  most countries not yet having regulations in  

place, bootleg e-liquids started showing up on  the market. And just like with alcohol during  

prohibition, most of the bootleg stuff wasn't  exactly made with consumer safety in mind. Back  

in 2019, the United States experienced an outbreak  of over 1600 cases of unexplained lung injury,  

34 of which were fatal. The victims of this  mystery illness had one major thing in common-  

they were all vapers. Ninety-two percent  of patients admitted that they'd been using  

black-market THC vape cartridges, and while the  remainder reported only smoking nicotine, the CDC  

notes that this might not be entirely reflective  of the truth since many of these victims lived in  

states where cannabis was illegal at the time. The lung injury, which doctors now call  

E-Cigarette or Vaping Associated Lung Injury  (EVALI for short), is primarily caused by an  

additive called vitamin E acetate, which is a  type of synthetic vitamin E typically used in  

topical skin cream. Research has suggested that  while vitamin E acetate is harmless when applied  

externally, it might have adverse effects on  lung functionality if inhaled. Though this  

is the prevailing theory, the reality is that  EVALI could be caused by any number of chemicals  

and additives that you can find in vape juice. At first glance, vape juice's typical ingredients  

seem pretty simple. Most e-liquids contain  propylene glycol, which is pretty common in  

food and medicine as a solvent. It serves as  a base liquid that suspends the nicotine and  

flavoring. If the e-liquid doesn't use propylene,  it'll probably use vegetable glycerine, a food  

thickening agent, which serves the same purpose  but creates a denser vapor. With those as a base,  

the rest of the ingredients are nicotine  and whatever food coloring and flavoring  

the manufacturers feel like adding. A lot of people would look at those  

ingredients and not see a problem. The kinds  of flavorings and additives used in e-liquids  

are probably also found in most kinds of soda,  so what's the problem? Well, what they're not  

taking into account is that even though vapes  use electronic atomizers instead of fire,  

they still can create carcinogenic substances,  even out of non-toxic materials. Since there's  

still so little regulation on the ingredients  of e-liquids, there's always a risk that two  

perfectly innocent elements, when vaporized, could  combine together to create something toxic. There  

are also plenty of things that, while they're  safe to eat, you really shouldn't be inhaling. 

Take diacetyl, for example. It's got a  scary-sounding name, but it's a fairly  

common artificial flavoring used in the US to  flavor things like instant coffee, caramel,  

fruity drinks, and to add a butter-like flavor  to microwave popcorn. It also occurs naturally  

in some wines. Sounds pretty tasty, but trust us  when we say you do not want this stuff getting  

in your lungs. That's because, if it does,  you might develop a chronic condition called  

bronchiolitis obliterans. This nasty illness  is colloquially known as 'popcorn lung' due  

to the fact that the first recognized cases of  it were all employees at a microwave popcorn  

factory in Jasper, Missouri. They spent so  much time around diacetyl that they ended  

up breathing in enough for it to become toxic. Following the discovery of the disease, a lot of  

food companies have switched out diacetyl for less  harmful flavor compounds, but since it's still  

approved by the FDA, it still finds its way into a  few products. As you can probably guess, flavored  

vape juice is one of them. A 2016 study published  by Environmental Health Perspectives reported  

that out of 51 e-liquid flavors, 39 contained  diacetyl. Another chemical, cinnamaldehyde, which,  

as you can probably guess, is found naturally in  cinnamon, has been shown to impair lung function  

in a study done by the University of North  Carolina. These are just two examples, and given  

how inconsistent vape liquid production tends to  be, that could just be the tip of the iceberg. 

Overwhelmingly, the advice from medical  professionals tends to be that if it's not air,  

it shouldn't be going in your lungs. This is  because it can disrupt the movements of the lungs'  

cilia. Cilia are little hair-like structures  inside the lungs that move in regular wave  

patterns. Their job is to push bacteria and other  nasties up and out of the lungs so they can be  

coughed out. Cinnamaldehyde, formaldehyde, and a  bunch of other chemicals that end in -aldehyde can  

have a paralytic effect on the lung cilia, which  can take weeks to recover from. During that time,  

your lungs are missing a crucial line of  defense against infection. Like we said before,  

formaldehyde is often added to cigarettes, and  the effects of that on the lung cilia of regular  

smokers have been well documented. The fact that  other aldehydes, even the ones that are safe to  

eat, can have the same effect when added to vape  liquid and inhaled is a relatively new discovery. 

Alright, so now that we've explained the science  behind the effects of both, it's time to answer  

the question- is vaping really healthier than  smoking cigarettes? If you asked, most experts  

would probably tell you "yes, but only barely."  E-liquid contains less nicotine than your average  

cigarette, and it usually doesn't contain any  acetone or butane, but that doesn't automatically  

make it a healthier alternative. In fact, given  that the effects of vaping still aren't fully  

understood, it's likely that new information could  come out sometime in the future that proves it's  

just as bad for you as cigarettes. What about the commonly heard claim  

that vaping can help people quit smoking? Unfortunately, despite his hopes that his  

invention would make smoking obsolete, Hon Lik's  inability to quit himself is pretty typical for a  

vaper. Most vapers continue to smoke cigarettes  even after they start vaping. Emily Banks from  

the Australian National University's Center for  Epidemiology has said that based on her research,  

there was limited evidence to suggest  that vaping can help people quit smoking. 

As for secondhand smoke, there's not much research  currently on whether or not walking through that  

guy's hot-dog-scented vape cloud at the bus stop  is going to put you at risk for lung disease,  

but a lot of people have theorized that we ought  to err on the safe side and restrict vaping in  

public the same way we restrict smoking. Ultimately, e-cigarettes are still such a  

new technology that it's impossible to know the  full extent to which they can be harmful to your  

health. The fact of the matter is there's probably  no fully safe way to consume nicotine on a regular  

basis. When it comes to the question of which one  is the least bad, the World Health Organisation's  

website probably sums it up best- "Both tobacco  products and [e-cigarettes] pose risks to health.  

The safest approach is to use neither." Now check out “This is What Happens  

to Your Body When You Stop Smoking  Tobacco.” or watch this video instead!