Smoking tobacco and a look at e-cigarettes

I am not just a non-smoker. I am an anti-smoker. Not only because of the catastrophic health defects but I just hate the smell. Cigarettes are a known cause of lung, mouth, lip, throat, larynx, oesophagus, bladder, kidney, liver, stomach and pancreatic cancer to name a few. Damaged caused to the heart also places a smoker at risk to heart disease and other vascular problems. It begs the question, how can simply smoking cause so many problems?

Well, tobacco smoke is rich with compounds emitted in gases and condensed tar particles. Most of these compounds are genotoxic (genetically harmful) and carcinogenic (cancer causing). The constituents of the compounds are alkenes, nitrosamines, aromatic and heterocyclic hydrocarbons and amines (generally synthetic and very harmful). Issues are slightly less severe as second hand smoke but are still heavily detrimental.

The effects of second hand smoke on infants as well as adults.

Adverse effects of smoking tobacco (there are more!)

The latest smoking trend however is e-cigarettes. I for one have welcomed it based entirely on olfactory reasons but are they really a clean and “healthy” alternative to the classic smoke and tar combo? Until recently, electronic cigarettes have had very little laboratory testing and as a result they have been marketed as tobacco-free, nicotine delivery devices that are a safer, more sociable option opposed to cigarettes. On a social front, studies have shown promise that e-cigarettes may be a useful tool in smoking abstinence. Respondents to a survey published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that using e-cigarettes for a prolonged period of time increased rate of smoking cessation. The relevance of this study is questionable as tobacco consumption is self-monitored and sample sizes limited. On the contrary to smoking cessation, e-cigarettes have been found to have a “glamour factor”. In a study published this year, it has been found that passive exposure to e-cigarettes significantly increases observers’ desire or urge to smoke a regular cigarette or to try an e-cigarette for the first time. The funky flavours and sleek designs make them cooler than the average white stick and tar taste with the added bonus of “smoking” indoors.

Attractive designs such as this could be encouraging more people to start smoking than help them to stop.

Now for the science. E-cigarettes still contain nicotine, a parasymphathomimetic alkaloid. This is not only worth 54 points on scrabble (without any bonus squares), but it is a naturally occurring insecticide in plants, ie. Toxic. In humans, it acts on the α3β4 ganglion type nicotinic receptor in the adrenal ganglia/medulla as well as a central nervous system α4β2 nicotinic causing an increase in dopamine and epinephrine contributing the relaxation or happiness associated with inhalation. As it increases cholinergic (neuron receptor proteins) and adrenergic signalling, this impedes apoptosis (programmed cell death) which is essential for preventing the onset of tumours. Nicotine also stimulates angiogenesis and neovascularisation. The be all and end all is that nicotine itself can cause cancer and a result, so can e-cigarettes. On the plus side they do not possess the fatal ailments directly associated from tobacco smoking and levels of nicotine can be altered by purchasing varying strengths of cigarette liquid.

I hope that these messages are slightly clearer than the SMOKING KILLS note that is now compulsory for all smoking products, although in my opinion if the product you are consuming directly tells you it will kill you it’s a pretty clear sign to avoid it.