Vaping, e-cigarettes, and secondhand smoke

E-cigarettes, or vapes, heat a liquid, usually containing nicotine and flavorings, into an aerosol that users inhale. Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm the developing brain, which keeps developing until about age 25, affecting attention, learning, and mood. Some vape pods contain as much nicotine as a whole pack of cigarettes, and the aerosol can contain harmful substances such as heavy metals and tiny particles that reach deep into the lungs. Smoking cigarettes causes heart disease, lung disease, and many cancers. Secondhand smoke, breathed in by people near a smoker, has no safe level: it can trigger asthma attacks and ear infections in children and cause heart disease and lung cancer in adults who do not smoke, which is why many places have smoke-free laws. In the United States, the minimum age to buy any tobacco product, including e-cigarettes, is 21. Quitting is hard but possible, and free help is available, for example through 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

This explanation is AI-generated and can occasionally be wrong. 🚩 Report