Vaping has emerged as a rather popular alternative to traditional smoking, and it offers smokers a potentially safer way to enjoy nicotine, without completely damaging their lungs. This does not mean that vaping is not surrounded with misconceptions and myths, as people constantly worry about its impact on health. In this article, we will take a look at some of the most common misconceptions going around about vaping and provide evidence based insight to debunk these myths, and highlight the potential benefits of vaping for smokers, who wish to make a healthier switch.

Myth #1: Vaping Is Dangerous Than Smoking

Even though most people like to think about vaping as an equally harmful option to smoking traditional cigarettes, it is nothing but a big misconception. A large number of studies and health experts have indicated that vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking. The Royal College of Physicians in the UK, released a report that stated that vaping is at least 95% less harmful as compared to smoking.

The main reason for it being less harmful is the absence of combustion during vaping. Unlike traditional cigarettes, which produce star and tons of harmful chemicals through combustion, vaping devices use a liquid to create an aerosol, which does not have any kind of combustion. This protects the vaper from being exposed to the same level of toxic and carcinogens found in cigarettes.

Myth #2: Second Hand Vapor Is Dangerous

Another big misconception that surrounds the world of vaping is the belief that similar to cigarettes, the secondhand vapor will pose significant health risks to the bystander. However, researches have shown that secondhand vapor produced from cigarettes contains significantly lower levels of harmful chemicals as compared to the secondhand smoke from traditional cigarettes.

A study published in the International Journal Of Hygiene and Environmental Health found that the exposure to toxicants from second hand vapor from cigarettes is minimal and unlikely to cause any kind of damage to the bystander. Additionally, vaping does not have any lingering smoke order and dissipates rather quickly, making it a more considerate option for public settings, as compared to smoking. 

Myth #3: Vaping Leads To Popcorn Lining

There is a myth of popcorn lung, which is a serious respiratory condition, which is caused by prolonged exposure to diacetyl, which is commonly but falsely associated with vaping. Diacetyl is a flavoring agent which is used in some liquids, primarily in flavors that are buttery or creamy. However, reputable liquid manufacturers have largely removed dry from their products due to the safety concerns that come with it.

Moreover, the levels of diacetyl that were originally found in e-cigarettes were already significantly lower than those associated with the occupational exposure in popcorn factory workers. A study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives even concluded that while the exposure from vaping may exist, the risk is extremely minimal as compared to the traditional occupational exposures.

Myth #4: Vaping Is Gateway To Smoking For The Youth

One of the biggest concerns that is raised by most adults about vaping is its potential to act as a gateway into smoking for the younger generation. However, this has been debunked through extensive research and surveys, which have shown that an overwhelming majority of youth who do not transition to smoking cigarettes.

A study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey found that the prevalence of smoking within the younger generation has declined rapidly as vaping rates have increased in the parallel. This suggests vaping is actually a harm reduction tool that diverse the youth from combustible tobacco products.

Myth #5: Vaping Causes Respiratory Illnesses

In recent years, there have been a huge amount of reports of vaping related respiratory illnesses, which leads to rightful concern about the safety of vaping in general. However, with further investigations, it has been revealed that these illnesses were primarily linked to the illicit.THC-containing vape cartridges that were obtained from unregulated or even illegal sources.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has emphasized the importance of obtaining vaping tools from legal and formal sources, as most vaping related lung injuries come from products containing THC, which are commonly in vaping tools, acquired from informal or illicit sources. There is no linkage between vape products, obtained from legal and regulated sources, and any kind of respiratory risks.  

In conclusion, it would be wise to say that while vaping may not be as bad or as harmful as some people have made it out to be, it certainly does require a lot of hindsight before consumption. It is always better to invest in vaping products obtained from clean and legally regulated sources to make sure it is harmless. And by debunking these myths, we can proudly say that vaping is a considerably better option as compared to traditional smoking.