How many cigarettes is one e-cigarette equivalent to?

Whether they are less harmful than traditional tobacco is a big unknown amid the wavering between fruity flavors and colorful packaging. At the same time, consumption is soaring, especially among children and teenagers, lured by marketing and the perception that traditional cigarettes are no longer safe and acceptable.

E-cigarettes have been proven to be addictive if they contain nicotine, but comparing them to traditional tobacco remains a mystery to some. Below are calculations of the maximum nicotine concentration legally allowed in these devices within the EU, and the equivalent concentration of nicotine in cigarettes.

Some products available on the market may have lower nicotine concentrations. In this case, a calculation similar to the previous one (showing the maximum value it can contain) must be made, since the quantity will always appear on the label.

Similar risks to traditional tobacco

It has been scientifically proven that e-cigarettes have a very similar effect on respiratory tissue as traditional cigarettes. There are also those that don’t contain nicotine.

That is, they affect the cells of the respiratory system, thereby nourishing and protecting the airways, the respiratory epithelium. When these cells don’t work properly, the incidence and severity of bacterial lung infections, as well as chronic bronchitis, increase. Lung epithelial cells are the first line of defense against pathogens and chemicals.

They also have effects on blood vessel cells, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The fact that e-cigarettes produce very similar reactions in cells as traditional cigarettes does not mean they cause exactly the same damage. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health recently published that the harmful effects on blood flow are different from those caused by traditional tobacco smoke.

Therefore, use of these two products may further increase the risk. This is what pulmonologist Marcos García Rueda told SUR: “We don’t yet know what damage they (vapers) can cause. What is clear is that they are not harmless, And whether they contain nicotine or not, their effects on human cells are no different.

There is no way to know what the liquid contains

According to the World Health Organization, tobacco contains 7,000 identified chemicals, at least 250 of which are known to be toxic or carcinogenic. In the case of e-cigarettes, the National Institutes of Health has identified 22 toxic substances associated with e-cigarettes, but the reality is that there is currently no way of knowing how many of them are actually contained. The Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) lists substances such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, acrolein, benzene, toluene, and nitrosamines. There are also metals such as nickel, copper, zinc, tin and lead.

Why is it impossible to know everything? Manufacturers of e-cigarettes around the world are not required to disclose the materials and chemicals used in their manufacturing processes, at least for now. That’s why there’s still limited control over the ingredients of the liquids used in e-cigarettes and how users can modify their devices.

Regulations affecting Spain follow the standards of EU legislation, which, like the rest of the world, are minimum: what the packaging must be, the number of doses of the product, etc. “In this sense, the legislation is more outdated than e-cigarette products, which are ahead of the curve. Unfortunately, it has an accessory control. That’s the problem.” Pulmonologist Marcos García Rue Marcos García Rueda said.

This is not water vapor, it is spray

E-cigarettes, now known as “vapers” or “vapers,” are also part of a movement to soften these products, which have been proven to be harmful to health. But it is not vapor that is consumed, but aerosols.