E-cigarette use among both youth and young adults has increased considerably in recent years. About one-quarter of U.S. youth and young adults have tried e-cigarettes. E-cigarette use poses a significant – and avoidable – health risk to young people in the United States. Besides increasing the possibility of addiction and long-term harm to brain development and respiratory health, the vapor from e-cigarettes is not harmless.
E-cigarettes commonly contain:
- Nicotine and other harmful chemicals
- Ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs
- Flavorings such diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease
- Volatile organic compounds such as benzene, which is found in car exhaust
- Heavy metals, such as nickel, tin, and lead.
There has now been six confirmed Vaping-related deaths in the United States with at least 500 more cases of lung illness associated with using e-cigarettes. It is time to stop Vaping.