What is a vape?
A "vape," or electronic cigarette, is a device that heats up a liquid to create a vapor you inhale. Some types of vaping devices include pens, e-cigarettes (like JUUL), and hookahs.
What's inside vaping devices?
But here's what's known about what has been found inside vaping devices. E-cigarette liquids, at the bare minimum, have three main components: flavors, sweeteners and solvents.
What are vape coils made of?
Those metal coils can be composed of a variety of substances, including an alloy of iron, chromium and aluminum called kanthal, or a combination of nickel and chromium. A Johns Hopkins study released in 2018 found those metals leach into vaping aerosol at dangerous levels.
Who is vaping in America?
Who is Vaping? According to 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) data, 3.6 million children in middle school and high school use e-cigarettes. Use, defined by at least once per day over the past 30 days, has increased 78 percent from 11.7 to 20.8 percent in 2018.
What are the main components of an e-cigarette?
The main components. E-cigarette liquids, at the bare minimum, have three main components: flavors, sweeteners and solvents. Solvents are substances used to dissolve either nicotine or marijuana-derived compounds including THC or CBD so those ingredients can be inhaled.
How do e-cigarettes produce aerosols?
E-cigarettes produce an aerosol by heating the e-liquid with metal coils. Those metal coils can be composed of a variety of substances, including an alloy of iron, chromium and aluminum called kanthal, or a combination of nickel and chromium.
What are the ingredients in e-liquid?
Sweeteners include sucralose and ethyl maltol. E-liquid flavors are wide-ranging, and can read like a wine tasting: "notes of vanilla" or "berries and herbal notes.". All of those ingredients — the solvents, the sweeteners and the flavors — are considered "generally recognized as safe" by the Food and Drug Administration.
What is the condition that a woman developed after vaping?
And a 2012 case report involved a woman who developed a condition called exogenous lipoid pneumonia after vaping for about six months. Doctors said her e-cigarette's oil-based solvents were the likely cause, and her condition improved when she quit vaping.
Can I buy vapes on the street?
Last week, the FDA and CDC warned the public not to buy vapes or vape ingredients on the street, and said "e-cigarette products should not be used by youth, young adults, pregnant women, as well as adults who do not currently use tobacco products.". Follow NBC HEALTH on Twitter & Facebook.
Is nicotine a carcinogen?
By itself, it's not known to be carcinogenic, but some lab research has suggested nicotine could promote tumor growth.
Is vaping a cause of pneumonia?
Hundreds of people nationwide have been hospitalized recently with severe cases of pneumonia or other lung illnesses — all believed to be directly linked to vaping. Investigators have not been able to pinpoint the exact cause. But here's what's known about what has been found inside vaping devices.
