Ellen Boakye1,2, Olufunmilayo H Obisesan1,2, Albert D Osei1,3, Omar Dzaye1,4,5, S M Iftekhar Uddin1,2, Glenn A Hirsch2,6, Michael J Blaha7. 1. Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, 600 N Wolfe St, Blalock 524, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA. 2. The American Heart Association Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, Dallas, TX, USA. 3. Department of Medicine, MedStar Union Memorial Hospital 201 E University Pkwy, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA. 4. Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. 5. Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology, Charité, Berlin, Germany. 6. Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, 80200, USA. 7. Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, 600 N Wolfe St, Blalock 524, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA. mblaha1@jhmi.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The increasing popularity and prevalence of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) use in the USA necessitates careful evaluation of their proposed benefits and potential public health harms. This report provides a detailed review of current scientific evidence on potential benefits and health risks associated with e-cigarette use. RECENT FINDINGS: E-cigarettes were introduced as a less harmful alternative to combustible cigarette smoking. However, evidence on their use as effective and safe smoking cessation aids remains inconclusive. Their rapid uptake among tobacco-naive individuals can lead to nicotine addiction and subsequent cigarette smoking. Although e-cigarettes appear to be relatively safer than combustible cigarettes, they expose users to known harmful constituents whose long-term health risks remain unknown. While e-cigarettes have the potential to aid in cessation of cigarette smoking when used as part of a structured cessation program, use among tobacco-naive youth and long-term dual use with combustible cigarettes should be strongly discouraged due to excess risk with dual use.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The increasing popularity and prevalence of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) use in the USA necessitates careful evaluation of their proposed benefits and potential public health harms. This report provides a detailed review of current scientific evidence on potential benefits and health risks associated with e-cigarette use. RECENT FINDINGS: E-cigarettes were introduced as a less harmful alternative to combustible cigarette smoking. However, evidence on their use as effective and safe smoking cessation aids remains inconclusive. Their rapid uptake among tobacco-naive individuals can lead to nicotine addiction and subsequent cigarette smoking. Although e-cigarettes appear to be relatively safer than combustible cigarettes, they expose users to known harmful constituents whose long-term health risks remain unknown. While e-cigarettes have the potential to aid in cessation of cigarette smoking when used as part of a structured cessation program, use among tobacco-naive youth and long-term dual use with combustible cigarettes should be strongly discouraged due to excess risk with dual use.
Authors: Amanda J G Dickinson; Stephen D Turner; Stacey Wahl; Allyson E Kennedy; Brent H Wyatt; Deborah A Howton Journal: Dev Biol Date: 2021-09-17 Impact factor: 3.582