DKFZ health damages by nicotine threaten also with e-cigarettes

DKFZ warns against health damage from nicotine
Nicotine is a toxic substance that poses a serious health risk even when consumed without tobacco smoke, for example via e-cigarettes, according to the warning of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg. The Cancer Prevention Department of the DKFZ has made it clear in a recent publication that nicotine can in principle lead to physical and psychological dependence and is also suspected of promoting atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis), type 2 diabetes and cancer. This also applies to nicotine that is absorbed via e-cigarettes and e-shishas.

Often nicotine-containing electronic inhalation products are offered to smokers as a harmless alternative to the cigarette, but this neglects the risks of the nicotine toxin. Although the harmful effect of tobacco smoke on e-cigarettes is eliminated, the evaporation of nicotine-containing liquids in the inhalation products is nevertheless expected to pose significant health risks, according to the DKFZ. "Nicotine is by no means the harmless substance that they like to portray the manufacturers of e-cigarettes." Verena Viarisio from the Cancer Prevention Unit of the DKFZ. "Nicotine is addictive, toxic and harmful to health in many ways," Viarisio continues. According to the expert, especially teenagers and pregnant women should neither smoke nor use e-cigarettes.

The intake of nicotine carries considerable health risks - not only for tobacco smoke, but also for e-cigarettes. (Image: tunedin / fotolia.com)

Nicotine in pregnancy is a taboo
In the current publication of the cancer prevention department of the DKFZ, the risks of nicotine are comprehensively examined. In addition to the physical and mental dependency, the focus is on threatening damage to health. An increased risk of arteriosclerosis, diabetes and cancer are possible consequences here. "Numerous research studies indicate that nicotine causes cancer, contributes to its progression and reduces the success of chemotherapy and radiotherapy," said the DKFZ. Furthermore, nicotine may affect the course of pregnancy and severely damage the health of the unborn child. "Nicotine in the womb probably contributes to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and interferes with later brain and lung development," reports the DKFZ.

What influences the health risks of e-cigarettes??
Together with the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety, the DKFZ has published a review article ("E-cigarettes and e-shishas: which factors endanger health?") On the health hazards of e-cigarettes and e-shishas, ​​for which numerous previous studies were evaluated. According to the results, the health risks of e-cigarette consumption are made up of three factors: the chemical mixture of excipients, flavors and nicotine, the individual user behavior and the device technology. For example, the concentration of carcinogenic and possibly carcinogenic substances such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in the e-cigarette aerosol increases with the temperature of the evaporator. Here, the battery voltage of the device but also the behavior of the users play a crucial role.

Banned e-cigarettes for children and adolescents
Basically, it can be said that e-cigarettes and e-shishas are not in children's hands Wolfgang Schober from the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety in the press release of the DKFZ. Therefore, the initiative of the Federal Family Minister to ban e-cigarettes and e-hookahs for children and adolescents is to be welcomed. In addition, "minimum technical standards should be introduced to protect adult consumers," Dr. Schober continues. (Fp)