E-cigarettes contain more carcinogenic substances

Study: Carcinogenic substances in e-cigarettes

29/11/2014

For many people, e-cigarettes are considered a healthier alternative to tobacco. Some even like to see the electric vaporizers recognized as a medicine. However, Japanese researchers have now found in a study that the vapor of the liquids of e-cigarettes may contain more carcinogenic substances than in tobacco.

Many see e-cigarettes as a healthier alternative
E-cigarettes are considered by many to be a healthier alternative to tobacco. They should be less harmful and help smokers with this „Smoke“ to renounce and instead to „steam“. Just a few days ago, the Federal Administrative Court had even dealt with the question of whether the liquids in e-cigarettes should be classified as a pharmacy-only drug. The Leipzig judges decided against it and e-cigarettes are still freely available.

Ten times more carcinogenic formaldehyde found
But e-cigarettes are by no means as safe or a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes. According to Japanese scientists, they may even contain more carcinogenic substances than classic tobacco. According to a news agency AFP, a study commissioned by the Japanese Ministry of Health concludes that the contents of the nicotine-containing liquid to be evaporated vary widely. Five different of these so-called liquids were tested by the researchers. They found ten times more carcinogenic formaldehyde in a brand than normal cigarettes.

Other dangerous ingredients
For their investigation, the scientists had a specially developed test device puffed ten times for each of the five tested liquid brands ten times. In addition to formaldehyde, they also discovered other carcinogenic substances such as acetaldehyde, acrolein, glyoxal and methylglyoxal. According to AFP, Naoki Kunugita of the Japanese Health Institute said that especially if the battery-operated evaporator gets too hot, „apparently produces more harmful substances“ become.

Long-term consequences are still unknown
Based on the study, the Japanese Ministry of Health now wants to decide on the future handling of e-cigarettes. Even though the devices are on the rise in Japan, they still do not have the resounding success as in Europe and the US. For some time now, both in Germany and at EU level, the possible consequences of the use of e-cigarettes have been debated. Critics continue to warn that possible long-term consequences of consuming e-cigarettes are not yet known. (Ad)