A new laboratory analysis of secondhand smoke from electronic cigarettes (usually called vapor) is cutting the legs out from under one of the main arguments used by e-cigarette prohibitionists that we don t know what's in the vapor emitted by the devices.
Actually, we do, and there isn't much in there. The study published in the journal Inhalation Toxicology found that very few chemicals in very low concentrations were detected in the vapor, with the only one of concern being formaldehyde. And the levels of formaldehyde were much less than in tobacco smoke.
ACSH adviser Dr. Michael Siegel, a professor with the Boston University School of Public Health, writes on his blog that the results confirm the previous evidence demonstrating that vaping is much safer than smoking and that there are few concerns related to the safety of secondhand vapor from electronic cigarettes, nor any reason to ban vaping in public places.
For those who are trying to quit and can't, e-cigarettes offer a safer option. This method's safety is especially relevant when compared to the drugs approved for cessation, which not only have more adverse effects but also are much less effective than reduced-harm products, such as e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products.