Can you get second hand smoke from a vape? Understanding Secondhand Vape Smoke

Vaping has came up as a popular alternative to traditional smoking, sparking a debate about its safety and the potential for secondhand exposure. Yes, you can get secondhand exposure from vaping, as vape aerosol contains nicotine, ultrafine particles, and carcinogens that could pose health risks to those nearby. However, it's important to remember that the health risks, like heart disease or cancer, from exposure are still being studied and may not be as serious as the risks from breathing in secondhand smoke from tobacco products.

Also, note that secondhand exposure from traditional cigarette smoke is significantly worse, containing a broader range of harmful chemicals known to cause serious health issues and its early to tell the long term affects of actual vaping. But, it's important to remember that the smoke from regular cigarettes is a lot worse because it has many more dangerous chemicals that can make people really sick. Since vaping is still pretty new, we don't fully know if it has any bad long-term effects yet. So far, here's what they know about the vapor you might breathe in if someone near you is vaping.

Key Insights

• E-cigarettes vs. Traditional Smoking: While e-cigarettes are considerably less harmful than traditional cigarettes, they are not risk-free, especially for non-smokers and young people.
• Risks of Secondhand Vape Aerosol: Secondhand vape aerosol contains harmful substances like nicotine, ultrafine particles, and carcinogens, which could pose health risks. 
• The Need for Caution: The long-term health effects of secondhand vaping exposure are still being studied, underlining the importance of caution and further research.
• Recommendations: E-cigarettes are advised as a quit-smoking aid for adult smokers, but not for non-smokers, youths, or pregnant women.
• Nicotine Causes Cancer: Nicotine is the chemical that makes cigarettes addictive. However, it is not responsible for the harmful effects of smoking, and nicotine does not cause cancer.

Understanding the Potential Harm of Vaping

Research into e-cigarettes continues, but findings so far indicate they are significantly less harmful than smoking. They offer a viable quit-smoking option, providing a less harmful way to satisfy nicotine cravings. However, the absence of long-term data means potential risks cannot be entirely ruled out, particularly for the young and never-smokers.

Are Vapes Worse than Cigarettes? 

The Unknowns of Secondhand Vaping

Secondhand vaping is a relatively new area of concern, with vape aerosol not being mere water vapor as some might think. It contains nicotine, ultrafine particles, and carcinogens, mirroring some dangers of traditional secondhand smoke. This raises questions about similar health risks, including nicotine absorption and an increased cancer risk. 

The Nature of E-Cigarette Aerosol

Contrary to common belief, the aerosol from e-cigarettes is a complex chemical mixture. Bystanders exposed to this aerosol inhale substances like nicotine, formaldehyde, and metals, which could have unknown health impacts, particularly over the long term.

While vaping is often seen as less harmful than smoking, e-cigarettes are not without side effects. Users may experience throat irritation, headaches, and nausea, especially when first using e-cigarettes. These symptoms highlight the need for cautious use, especially among non-smokers and young people. 

Composition Concerns of E-Cigarette Liquids and Aerosols

E-cigarettes produce a mist, or vapor, that users inhale, which is made up of nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerol, and various other chemicals. This mixture can lead to safety concerns. For example, propylene glycol, a common ingredient, may cause dryness in the mouth and irritation in the throat. These effects highlight the importance of further research to fully understand the long-term impacts of using e-cigarettes.

So, Is Vaping Really Bad?

Vaping is often highlighted as a significantly safer alternative to traditional smoking, with Public Health England estimating it to be about 95% less harmful. This is mainly because e-cigarettes don't involve the burning of tobacco—a process responsible for most of the harmful substances found in cigarette smoke. Instead, vaping delivers nicotine by heating a liquid to create an aerosol, commonly referred to as vapor, which is considered to have fewer toxins.

While concerns have been raised about the presence of harmful substances in vape aerosol that can remain in the air or settle on surfaces, it's important to contextualize these findings. Research, including studies by the American Thoracic Society and findings from 2021 and 2020, does indicate that vape particles can stay in the air indoors and that vape shops have higher levels of certain chemicals during operating hours. However, it's essential to consider the relative risk compared to smoking. The potential for thirdhand exposure to nicotine from vaping, though worth noting, represents a significantly reduced risk compared to the well-documented dangers of secondhand smoke from cigarettes. In this light, vaping emerges as a less harmful option, particularly for current smokers looking for alternatives to reduce their health risks.

The Deal with Secondhand Vaping

While there are studies, like one from 2022, suggesting that vaping could lead to increased risks of respiratory issues among young adults, it's crucial to weigh these findings in the broader context of vaping versus smoking. E-cigarettes produce a vapor that, indeed, carries ultrafine particles and various substances, including nicotine, propylene glycol, and vegetable glycerin Additionally, it may contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can cause headaches, nausea, and irritation of the throat, nose, and eyes, along with damage to the nervous system, liver, and kidneys. Some flavorings in the vapor, such as diacetyl, are associated with serious lung diseases, and formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, is also a potential component. Nicotine, however, is the substance that leads to addiction in cigarettes, yet it's not the culprit behind smoking's detrimental health effects, including cancer; nicotine itself does not cause cancer.

As vaping is a relatively recent phenomenon, research into its secondhand effects is ongoing. Early indications suggest that bystanders to vaping can inhale nicotine and fine particles similar to secondhand smoke exposure. However, it's essential to note that the potential health risks, including heart disease or cancer, are still under investigation and might not be as severe as those associated with secondhand smoke from tobacco products.

Vaping creates a mist that doesn't stick around as long as cigarette smoke. Unlike smoke from cigarettes, which can cling to clothes and linger in rooms, the vapor from e-cigarettes tends to disappear much quicker. This quick fading means that any harmful substances in the vapor might not stay in the air or on surfaces for very long. Therefore, being around someone who's vaping might not expose you to as many risks as being around cigarette smoke because the potential harmful elements in the vapor don't last as long.

The variety of chemicals found in tobacco smoke, some of which are also found in common household or industrial products. The potential dangers of smoking cigarettes include:

• Acetone, commonly found in nail polish remover
• Acetic acid, an ingredient in hair dye
• Ammonia, a common household cleaner
• Arsenic, used in rat poison
• Benzene, found in rubber cement and gasoline
• Butane, used in lighter fluid
• Cadmium, an active component in battery acid
• Carbon monoxide, released in car exhaust fumes
• Formaldehyde, used in embalming fluid
• Hexamine, found in barbecue lighter fluid
• Lead, used in batteries
• Naphthalene, an ingredient in mothballs
• Methanol, a main component in rocket fuel
• Nicotine, also used as an insecticide
• Tar, material for paving roads
• Toluene, used to manufacture paint

Are There Side Effects to Vaping?

Vaping isn't without its problems. People who vape can get throat and mouth irritation, cough, and feel sick, especially when they first start. And while we're pretty sure vaping is less likely to cause cancer than smoking cigarettes, there's still a lot we don't know about its long-term effects.

So, What Should You Take Away from All This?

Vaping might be a less harmful choice for smokers trying to quit, but that doesn't mean it's safe for everyone else, especially kids and people who've never smoked. The stuff in vape smoke—like nicotine and other chemicals—can affect people who breathe it in, even if they're not the ones vaping.

In short, if you're thinking about vaping to quit smoking, that might be a good move for your health. But if you've never smoked, picking up a vape isn't a risk-free choice. And for everyone's sake, it's best to keep that vapor away from others as much as possible.

FAQ on Vaping and Its Effects: Can you get second hand smoke from a vape?

Q: Are e-cigarettes safer than traditional cigarettes?
A: Yes, e-cigarettes are considered significantly less harmful than traditional cigarettes. Public Health England estimates them to be about 95% less harmful because they don't burn tobacco, which is a major source of the harmful substances in cigarette smoke.

Q: What are the risks of secondhand vape aerosol?
A: Secondhand vape aerosol contains nicotine, ultrafine particles, and carcinogens, which could pose health risks to bystanders, including respiratory issues and potential long-term health effects that are still being researched.

Q: Can vapes cause lung cancer?
A: So far, there's no concrete evidence that vaping leads to cancer. However, vaping is not without concerns, including throat and mouth irritation and potential long-term health impacts that remain under investigation.

Q: How does the aerosol from e-cigarettes affect bystanders?
A: Bystanders can inhale harmful substances like nicotine, formaldehyde, and metals from the aerosol, which could have unknown health impacts, especially over the long term. Although Nicotine is the chemical that makes cigarettes addictive. It is not responsible for the harmful effects of smoking, and nicotine does not cause cancer.

Q: What are the side effects of vaping?
A: Vapers may experience throat irritation, headaches, and nausea. These symptoms can become less bothersome over time, but the long-term effects of vaping are still being studied.

Q: What's the deal with secondhand vaping?
A: Secondhand vaping could lead to increased risks of respiratory issues. The vapor contains various harmful substances, but the extent of health risks is still being studied. Early indications suggest that the risks might not be as severe as those from traditional secondhand smoke.

Q: Do vape particles linger in the air?
A: Vape particles tend to dissipate more quickly than cigarette smoke, reducing the duration of exposure to potentially harmful substances. However, this doesn't guarantee safety while the vapor is present.

Q: Are there side effects to vaping?
A: Yes, vaping can cause throat and mouth irritation, coughing, and nausea, especially for new users. The long-term health effects are still under investigation.

Q: What should I take away from all this?
A: Vaping may be a less harmful option for smokers looking to quit. However, it's not safe for non-smokers, especially children and those who have never smoked. It's important to be cautious and considerate about vaping around others.

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Author, Josh Kim, Team Member of Eliquidstop

Hello, vape community! I'm Joshua. It's been an amazing five-year journey since I switched from smoking to vaping. I'm here to share my top tips, talk about the newest vape gear, suggest the most delicious flavors, and keep you in the loop with the latest vaping news. Let's dive into the colorful and constantly changing world of vape together. Cheers to our journey without smoke!

References 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6751519/

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/pdfs/Electronic-Cigarettes-Infographic-508.pdf

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/smoking-and-cancer/is-vaping-harmful

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/secondhand-vape-exposure#secondhand-exposure

https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/smoking-facts/whats-in-a-cigarette