We know that secondhand smoke is not without consequences. And there’s a good reason for that because, according to the CDC, an estimated 41,000 Americans die from it each year. But inhaling passively the vapors of e-cigarettes also poses real health risks. According to a study published in the journal BMJ Thorax on Jan. 10, “passive” vaping is particularly harmful to the bronchial tubes of young adults.
Not enough data yet on the effects of passive vaping
To reach this conclusion, researchers at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, based their findings on an observation. “Little is currently known about the health effects of nicotine exposure from vaping,” they noted. They then wanted to know whether “passive” vaping was associated with respiratory problems in young adults.
To examine the impact of this exposure to e-cigarette vapor on respiratory health, they looked at a study called the Southern California Children’s Health Study. The study was conducted on 2,097 young adults from 2014 to 2019. Each year, participants were asked about their respiratory health, exposure to tobacco smoke, cannabis, and e-cigarette vapor.
A link between “passive” vaping and respiratory problems
According to the study authors, the prevalence of passive vaping increased from 11.7% to 15.6% between 2014 and 2019. “The incidence of wheezing, bronchial damage, and shortness of breath increased from 12.3% to 14.9%, 19.4% to 26%, and 16.5% to 18.1%, respectively, during the study period.”
According to the researchers, young adults who had been exposed to e-cigarette vapor were more likely to suffer from respiratory problems than participants who had not been exposed.
“If there is a causal link, reducing exposure to e-cigarette vapor in the home would reduce the incidence of respiratory symptoms and provide a compelling argument for regulating the use of e-cigarettes in public places,” the researchers concluded.
NB: It is now recommended that health care providers no longer suggest that patients use e-cigarettes to quit smoking.
References
Islam, T., Braymiller, J., Eckel, S. P., Liu, F., Tackett, A. P., Rebuli, M. E., Barrington-Trimis, J., & McConnell, R. (2022). Secondhand nicotine vaping at home and respiratory symptoms in young adults. Thorax, 77(7), 663–668. https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2021-217041
