Cigarettes are BAD - Both Normal as well as E-Cigs

We all have this perception that E-cigs are healthy alternatives to cigarettes. Rising costs and truth about cancer causing effects of normal cigarettes ignited the sales of E-cigs all over the world. It is about USD 2 Billion market, and expected to rise even further, beating the sales of tobacco cigarettes.

In a study, published in PLoS, the researchers have proved that E-cigs are equally bad for health. Their important findings/results using a mouse model are:

1. Cigarette smoke contains 10¹⁴ free radicals/puff and causes oxidative damage, inflammation and apoptosis, which drive the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). E-cig vapor contains 7x10¹¹ free radicals per puff.
2. Analyses of E-cig vapor have identified many different chemicals that could be potentially toxic or carcinogenic, including particulates, formaldehyde, nitrosamines, etc; although these compounds are generally reported to be lower than in cigarette smoke.
3. Approximately 75% of E-cig vapor is comprised of propylene glycol and/or glycerol. Inhalation exposure to propylene glycol, which is also found in theatrical fog machines, has been shown to elicit detrimental effects on lung function.
4. E-cig exposure results in immunomodulatory effects that are similar to those observed after exposure to cigarette smoke.

The article citation: Sussan, T. E.; Exposure to Electronic Cigarettes Impairs Pulmonary Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Viral Defenses in a Mouse Model. PLoS ONE 2015, 10(2), e0116861. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0116861. The text and references therein.

Conclusion: E-cigs are BAD