Vaping near children is bad for their health because the liquid in e-cigarettes contains chemicals they breathe in, scientists say.
- Children ages 4 to 12 exposed to vaping have significantly higher levels of metabolites related to chemicals found in e-cigarette liquids.
- Scientists observed a disruption in dopamine levels and greater oxidative stress in these children.
- The parents to whom they showed these results were surprised because they did not think that vaping posed a risk to their children’s health.
7.3% of 18-75 year olds reported vaping in 2022, according to Public Health France. But, when they do it in front of children, is it dangerous for their health? Yes, answers one study of American Emory University in which researchers show that children of vaping parents inhale substances that are harmful to their body.
Dangerous chemicals in e-cigarette vapor
“Many smokers have started using e-cigarettes, believing it is safer for themselves and others nearby. explains Jeannie Rodriguez, one of the authors of the study. But the liquids used in an e-cigarette contain chemicals that are dangerous to you and your loved ones who are exposed to them through the vapors you exhale.“
During their work, the researchers studied data (blood, saliva and breath tests) from children aged 4 to 12 years old, whether or not exposed to vaping. Thus, they found that those whose parents vaped daily had significantly higher levels of metabolites linked to chemicals present in e-cigarette liquids, compared to children whose parents did not use vapes or cigarettes.
Metabolites are small molecules which, in the case of exposed children, disrupt their bodies. Scientists observed:
- A disruption in levels of dopamine, a hormone involved in many functions such as pleasure, attention, sleep, etc.
- Oxidative stress, that is to say an attack on cells by free radicals, molecules that can damage them.
The little-known dangers of vaping
The researchers presented their findings to parents who were very surprised by the results. More than half (11 out of 19) thought vaping posed a minor health risk or no risk at all.
Since the arrival of e-cigarettes on the French market, the number of ex-daily smokers who stopped smoking for more than six months and who think that vaping helped them was estimated at around 700,000 people in 2017, according to Public Health France.
However, some people continue using electronic cigarettes for years. According to scientists, addiction and the lack of information about the harmfulness of this product explain why many parents continue to vape and expose their children to dangerous substances, without necessarily being aware of it.
In a communicated published last December, the World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that “uurgent action [était] necessary to control electronic cigarettes in order to protect children as well as non-smokers and minimize risks to the health of the population”. The health authority indicated that vaping was as important a public health problem as smoking.
