New research warns that many e-cigs appear to be contaminated with fungi and bacteria. What you should know:
But as a practical matter, Christiani noted that the contaminant levels his team found in e-cigarettes was actually"considerably lower" than levels"that have been shown to causeWhat's more, such contaminants are also found in standard cigarettes, where levels"are [also] generally higher than what we measured here," he added.
The bottom line:"At this time, we do not have scientific evidence that the levels we see in these electronic cigarette products raise health concerns," Christiani concluded.Still, he cautioned that"we do not know what the risk is with long-term usage, with increasing cumulative dose, and with the interaction between these contaminants and other potentially toxic agents we and others have found in electronic cigarette products, such as flavorants or industrial solvents.
Christiani's team noted that the popularity of e-cigarettes has exploded in just a few years, particularly among young users. For example, the authors pointed out that while just 220,000 high school students vaped in 2011, last year that figure hit more than 3 million.standard cigarettes, as its use has grown, so has public health scrutiny.
As to what might cause contamination, the study team said it could happen at any point during the production process. But they also pointed a finger at the cotton fiber wicks found in e-cigarette cartridges, given that such fibers are known to host both bacteria and fungi. Regardless of whether such contaminants ultimately pose a significant risk,"vaping is potentially harmful to your health, and [it's best] not to do it," Christiani said."More study is needed to determine whether vaping can be made safer by removal of all contaminants and adulterants."
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