As of: February 26, 2024, 3:57 p.m
By: Jasmina Deshmeh
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E-cigarettes and tobacco heaters are often advertised as being “lower in pollutants” than conventional cigarettes.
But what's behind the manufacturer's promises?
E-cigarettes and tobacco heaters are particularly popular among young smokers and are often sold as a harmless alternative to regular cigarettes.
But even if the burden of the main pollutants in tobacco is lower, they contain questionable and sometimes carcinogenic pollutants.
Since the products are still relatively new on the market, long-term health effects are poorly researched.
E-cigarettes and tobacco heaters: how do they work?
Vaping e-cigarettes are often sold as a harmless alternative to regular cigarettes.
They also contain substances that are harmful to health (symbolic image).
© Shotshop/Imago
Tobacco heaters are small devices into which a tobacco stick (similar to a cigarette) is inserted and heated to 250 to 350 degrees.
This creates aerosols that are inhaled.
Tobacco heaters contain real tobacco, some of which is heavily processed.
Unlike conventional cigarettes, it is not burned, but only heated.
E-cigarettes come in different colors, shapes and flavors.
The structure is the same for all models: They have a battery, a mouthpiece, an evaporator and a small tank with liquid, the so-called liquid.
This liquid is heated using a heating coil, nebulized and then inhaled through the mouthpiece.
It consists of various substances such as:
Humectant propylene glycol/glycerin
Flavors
nicotine
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How questionable are the ingredients?
First of all, heated tobacco and e-cigarettes contain nicotine and, like traditional cigarettes, can be addictive.
In addition to its addictive potential, nicotine can
increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and strokes, and the risk of cancer also increases, according to
the German Center for Addiction Issues .
Nicotine can activate so-called oncogenes - genes that, under certain conditions, stimulate cells to develop into tumor cells.
In laboratory experiments, nicotine also inhibits the effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
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Other ingredients in the liquid can also be harmful to your health.
According to the
German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ),
most of them are considered harmless if they are absorbed through the digestive tract, but this does not apply to inhalation.
For example, propylene glycol is also found in foods such as ice cream, pastries and sauces - but if inhaled, the substance can irritate the eyes and respiratory tract.
And aromas that provide flavors such as melon or strawberry can also trigger contact allergies in sensitive people.
The risk of cancer can only be estimated so far
Since tobacco heaters have only been on the market since 2017, long-term health effects cannot yet be researched.
Added to this is the poor data situation, because according to
the DKFZ
, relatively few people have used tobacco heaters so far.
Many of them are also former smokers, which could skew the results.
Experts can therefore only estimate the risk of cancer.
Individual studies show that tobacco heaters produce significantly fewer aldehydes and volatile organic compounds compared to normal cigarettes, as the
Federal Office for Risk Assessment (BfR)
informs.
Substances considered to be carcinogenic or likely to be carcinogenic.
Consumers therefore consume lower concentrations - although there are no amounts that are considered harmless.
In summary, experts assume that the risk of cancer from e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products is lower than from normal cigarettes.
However, it can differ from model to model.
In addition, e-cigarettes, with their bright colors, shapes and flavors, appeal primarily to young people.
Consumers therefore come into contact with harmful substances at an early stage and the “alternative products” could lead to addiction.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editorial team cannot answer individual questions about medical conditions.