The electronic cigarette is popular with many people, especially to quit smoking. However, there is little hindsight on this practice and the consequences on health are still unknown.

The e-cigarette market is experiencing a real craze, among smokers who are trying to quit smoking, but also among young people who are testing different aromas as a fad. To vape, it is necessary to pour an e-liquid into the tank of the electronic cigarette. Regularly, the consumer has to buy bottles containing refills. As indicated by the Health Security Agency (ANSM), these contain a substance to dilute, such as propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin. It is also possible that water or ethanol is present in this liquid. On the other hand, there is a nicotine content, which the user can choose according to the purpose of vaping. Finally, many flavors are available on the market: sweet, salty, fruity or even the taste of tobacco. Regarding regulations, only products containing nicotine are regulated by a European directive. The concentration of this alkaloid should not exceed 20 mg / ml. Also, any marketing on European soil must be declared by manufacturers and importers.

The health risks of vaping are still unknown, because electronic cigarettes have only existed since 2007. However, they are debated within society and the scientific community, who do not yet know if they have real benefits for reduction. smoking or health hazards of vapers. According to ANSES, “ e-liquid ingredients […] the compounds that can form in the mixture, during the formation of the aerosol or even migrate from the electronic cigarette Potentially cause risks. Investigations and scientific studies are currently being carried out to find out the adverse effects of vaping. The stakes are high, because according to the Public Health France barometer, more than 34% of 18-75 year olds have already experienced e-cigarettes and 3,8% would even use it every day.

Recently, the World Health Organization has also pointed out the use of electronic cigarettes among young people, targeted in particular by manufacturers. In January 2020, Santé Publique France revealed via an investigation that cases of severe pneumonia related to vaping were reported in the United States. More recently, a study, the results of which were published in the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics, shows that oxidative stress increases, even during a 30-minute vaping session. However, free radicals can alter cells and promote the onset of certain cardiovascular, pulmonary and neurological diseases as well as cancer, as indicated by Holly Middlekauff, lead author of the trial.