The last five years have seen an enormous rise in the popularity of e-cigarettes and vape pens as an alternative to smoking cigarettes. Initially pegged as a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes, more and more information is coming to light that e-cigarettes and vape pens may cause their own significant set of dangers to users.
According to the American Lung Association, early studies show that e-cigarettes contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals, including carcinogens. In the past year, cases are surfacing of people suffering severe lung injuries that doctors are linking to the use of e-cigarettes and other vaping devices, including hypersensitivity pneumonitis and lopoid pneumonia. In one case, after inhaling a flavored vapor from an e-cigarette, a woman was rushed to the hospital and put on a ventilator. Though the FDA has proposed extending its authority to regulate e-cigarettes, as of now, the industry is not regulated and there are no requirements that manufacturers test for dangerous chemicals.
Beyond the concern that has arisen over the damage e-cigarettes can cause to a person’s lungs, there have also been a growing number of injuries reported related to e-cigarettes and vape pens exploding in people’s faces, hands and pockets. According to the United States Fire Administration (“FEMA”), there have been 25 reported e-cigarette explosions between 2009 and 2014 and nine reported injuries. While in 2015, stories have been reported in Colorado, California, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Canada, of serious injuries and scarring resulting from the explosion of e-cigarettes.
Despite the growing number of injuries resulting from the use of e-cigarettes and vape pens, their usage continues to grow, particularly with teenagers. According to the CDC, the use of e-cigarettes tripled among middle and high school students from 2014 to 2015, thanks to the fact that more than 18 million young people are exposed to e-cigarette advertising in some form.
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