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Vaping has become an increasingly popular alternative to cigarettes.

It isn’t uncommon to hear throughout the media that vaping is safer than smoking traditional cigarettes.

However, that doesn’t mean that e-cigarettes are completely harmless as researchers in the University of Birmingham have uncovered.

Their evidence suggests that vapourised e-liquid increases the production of inflammatory chemicals and disables key protective cells in the lungs that keep the air spaces clear of potentially harmful particles. – (EEK).  Even being a professional vaper, you should know about diversity of the best cbd wax (check here for more).

Researchers published the study in a journal, Thorax and found that the vapour impairs the activity of cells, called alveolar macrophages.

These protective cells are fundamental to the immune response within the airways.

Alveolar macrophages are responsible for engulfing and removing dust and bacteria.

Furthermore, they clear allergens that may compromise our respiratory defences.

“Our work clearly shows that vapourised e-cigarette fluid is toxic to living cells; increases the production of inflammatory chemicals; and inhibits the function of cells that are key to the immune system,” said Dr Aaron Scott, of the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Inflammation and Ageing.

Their work demonstrated similarities in cell behaviour when vapour was introduced, that is typically seen in traditional smokers and those suffering with the lung disease; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

“Importantly, we found that exposure of these cells to e-cigarette vapour induced many of the same cellular and functional changes in function seen in cigarette smokers and patients with COPD.

“While further research is needed to fully understand the effects of e-cigarette exposure in humans in vivo, we suggest continued caution against the widely held opinion that e-cigarettes are safe,” added Dr Scott.

The scientists hope that their findings will educate the general public of the negative effectives of vaping on human health.

Professor David Thickett, from same department in the University of Birmingham said: “cigarette smoking is associated with the cause of almost every lung disease – lung cancer, asthma, COPD and fibrosis.”

“It has been suggested electronic cigarettes are safer than traditional cigarettes, and this narrative is increasingly supported by tobacco companies that have established research institutes devoted to generating supportive data.”

“E-cigarette users have been given advice based on relatively little information. We hope that by disseminating this data as widely as possible the public can at least make an informed choice; the public must be aware these devices are not harmless.”

The professor also highlighted how the study shows that “dedicated funding and research” is needed to really evaluate the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes.

The researchers concluded that under laboratory conditions, the vaping process can damage vital immune system cells.

Vaping is still a relatively new habit, hitting the European markets in April 2006.

Much like cigarettes, this may be a case of only time will tell to really know the true extent of the good, bad and the ugly side effects of vaping.

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Vaping has become a trendy take on smoking, and with January resolutions to quit smoking just about wavering, it might seem like a good idea to try vaping.

Vaping, for those not in the know, is the process of inhaling nicotine-laced chemical compounds through an electric cigarette, which superheats the vape liquid to create the faux-smoke.

There are nicotine free versions and a variety of flavours, from blueberry bubblegum to oatmeal and raisin.

Vaping has gotten a bit of a bad wrap lately, with allegations of shoddy craftsmanship causing E-Cigs to explode in peoples faces (warning, graphic content) and start fires in people homes.

The companies have also been accused of appealing to children with their fruity flavours.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention released a report last year which found that e-cig use had tripled in the past year among middle and high school students.   

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The cigs were mostly unregulated for a long time, but in May 2016 the European Union imposed standardised controls on liquids and vaporiser cigarettes across the EU as well as making the disclosure of ingredients in vaping liquids a requirement.

Child-proofing and tamper-proofing for liquid packaging was also made a requirement.

The danger with E-cigarettes is that you don’t actually know exactly what’s in the liquid cartridges.

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According to the American Lung Association, they “don’t presently know what is in e-cigarettes. However, in initial lab tests conducted in 2009 the FDA found detectable levels of toxic cancer-causing chemicals, including an ingredient used in anti-freeze, in two leading brands of e-cigarettes and 18 various cartridges.”

There are also dangers as the liquid heats up to vaporised, which can create new chemical concoctions that you are then inhaling so you think you are ok when in fact, you just don’t know.

“To use an e-cigarette, you load the liquid and apply electricity, heating the liquid until it vaporizes. At this temperature, the chemicals inside the fluid undergo a breakdown process and are converted into other chemicals,” according to neurologist Dr Karl Perlmutter.

“When the e-cigarette liquid broke down, it produced both formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing agents, a known carcinogen.”

The U.S. Surgeon General found that e-cigarettes can expose users to several potentially harmful chemicals, including nicotine, carbonyl compounds and “volatile organic compounds” .

Research into the brand is a must, as according to Cancer.net: “E-cigarettes may contain harmful substances. However, the types or concentrations of chemicals, including nicotine, vary based on the brand.”

So while vaping doesn’t have as many cancer-causing compounds as smoking, it’s still not 100 percent safe.

Either way you choose to look at it, the best substance to smoke is usually nothing at all.

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