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Electronic Cigarette and Nicotine Toxicity
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The electronic cigarette industry and the limited knowledge of the products’ health effects are newly debated topics, both nationally and internationally. This review attempts to summarize the most recent developments in the increasing popularity of electronic cigarettes, including their potential use as a tobacco cessation device, their health effects, their potential toxicity with inappropriate consumption, their role as a portal to other drugs, and their lack of adequate regulation.
— Sandra Schneider, MD, Editor
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Introduction
The first smokeless non-tobacco cigarette was actually patented in 1965. 1 Electronic cigarettes, also referred to as e-cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery systems, were introduced to the United States market in 2007 after being developed in China in 2003. Advertised by manufacturers and websites as a smoking cessation aid and an alternative to tobacco use, the electronic cigarette market and “vaping” culture have grown exponentially in the past several years. Especially with stricter indoor tobacco laws being enforced, traditional cigarette smokers are looking to other methods for nicotine use in public establishments. Adolescents and young adults are being targeted specifically by electronic cigarette companies, generating a whole new generation of individuals potentially addicted to nicotine.
With the rapid increase in the utilization of electronic cigarettes and vaping, much attention is being paid to the short- and long-term health effects of this new trend. Little is known regarding the consequences of acute or chronic use on consumers and the secondhand effects of this new smoking fad. Concerns include the potential dangers of a highly concentrated nicotine product for accidental ingestion or intentional misuse. New research has also suggested that nicotine can serve as a “gateway drug” for more dangerous substances and addictive behaviors. In addition, the emergence of electronic cigarettes has presented a new method for inhalation of cannabinoids and other recreational drugs.
One area that...