Why Have Worries On Vaping Decreased?
According to recent surveys, only 5 % of adults think vaping is more harmful than smoking.
Since it started out as a smoking cessation tool in the mid noughties, vaping has become increasingly entangled in a worldwide debate with many differing opinions. The crux of the argument; is vaping less dangerous than smoking? Whilst any vaper can attest, it absolutely is less dangerous on the grand scheme, but there are a few points which pro smokers will bring up time and time again. At the end of the day, these myths are being quashed, but there are a still a few myths about vaping lingering like tobacco stains on the curtains.
More research means more people are in the know
Although there’s still a lot to go, and many people are still saying more research needs to be done, it’s fair to say that the vaping landscape has changed dramatically in the last decade. Since Hon Lik’s first modern vape device, people have been researching the device and finding both the pros and the cons to changing from tobacco. What has been found so far is that vaping is unequivocally better for you than smoking is, being 98% less harmful according the medical studies. There has also been a lot of research into how quitting smoking for vaping can affect mental health, and the psychology behind it. In short, the future looks bright for vaping, especially as even more research takes place surrounding the long term effects.
Who still bans vaping?
Despite the benefits, there are still a range of countries where vaping is banned or at least heavily restricted. The reasons behind this may be due to corporate investment in the country, religious or ethical arguments surrounding the nature of nicotine, and even the prohibition of ingredients such as nicotine.
Countries who ban vaping include the United Arab Emirates, where you could get a prison sentence for it, Venezuela, Colombia, Egypt, Mexico, Oman, Panama, Singapore and many others. That’s still quite a few countries which don’t allow vaping or the selling of vape related products. There are also a range of countries where vaping is heavily restricted, including Denmark, Finland, Australia and Japan among others. With this set of countries, you can find a range of tax laws and even some cases where vaping may be legal but e liquids not legal. In India, some states ban vaping whilst others do not.
So why are these countries banning e juice when much of the world is saying yes? Vape liquid in the UK is beginning to be used in the millions for example. Many of the bans are down to the World Health Organisations tobacco restrictions, and how there has been some research to suggest that vaping doesn’t help to quit smoking. This has meant that some countries have focused on the nicotine element of vape liquids, putting restrictions on that as an addictive substance.
Is nicotine harmful?
One of the main concerns about vaping is the harm that nicotine can do. Whilst it is definitely an addictive substance, there are some people who believe it to be dangerous for other reasons as well.
What is nicotine?
Nicotine is a chemical found inside the nightshade species of plant, and most importantly, is abundant within tobacco plant. One of the interesting elements of nicotine, is that it acts as both a stimulant and a depressive. In small doses, those found in cigarettes, it can lead the subject to being more alert and focused, whilst in higher doses it can act as a depressant and a poison. This has led to, in the past, cases of nicotine poisoning and rashes, mostly from tobacco farmers handling with no protection of the tobacco plant and nicotine chemical.
Vape juices do need to be taken care of then, due to their inclusion of large amounts of nicotine as there have been cases of children trying to drink the liquid. This means that if you must keep your UK vape liquid stored somewhere where it can’t be reached by children, whilst making sure the bottles are tightly sealed when not in use.
Nicotine has been known to increase the heart rate, but not to the point of being a cause for heart disease and whilst people may be justifiably worried about breathing n passive vapour and getting addicted to nicotine, you can be rest assured that due to the fact that when vaping you are inhaling vapour, not smoke, almost all of the nicotine is inhaled into the bloodstream of the user and not back out into the world.
Popcorn Lung
Popcorn Lung is another worry non vapers have about e liquids. This form of bronchitis was first seen in a factory worker working on buttered popcorn, it ebing a chemical with which the butter in popcorn is glazed with. After his death, people realised that the chemical was also used in some vape flavours, and whilst this has been verified and now rectified to decrease the use of the chemical, there has been some worry about the chemical known as diacetyl being used. First off, diacetyl is being decreased in use for vape flavours, and secondly, the amounts of diacetyl in vape juice have very little harmful effects, it’d only be down to prolonged and potent exposure where any bodily harm could be caused.