E-cigarette: A Safer Alternative for Adult Smokers

According to a report released by the Latin American Tobacco Harm Reduction Association (RELDAT) on October 9th, e-cigarettes are undeniably safer than traditional cigarettes, providing adult smokers with a risk-reducing alternative. RELDAT is an organization composed of medical professionals from countries such as Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, and Chile, committed to promoting effective harm reduction policies related to tobacco consumption.

Although e-cigarettes are not entirely harmless, the harmful substances they produce are significantly lower than those in traditional tobacco. It can provide smokers with the nicotine they depend on, but in a less harmful form, as the airborne particulates it produces contain almost none of the 98-99% of compounds found in tobacco smoke that can be measured." Dr. Hugo Cabrallero, a Columbia internist, pulmonologist, and interventional pulmonologist, and the Director of Pulmonary Services at the Mali Clinic, explained.

Dr. Cabrallero also pointed out, "There is a common misconception that e-cigarettes are toxic because they contain nicotine. However, the scientific community has rigorously confirmed multiple times that nicotine is not the cause of lung cancer or other tobacco-related diseases. With stricter regulation of these products and advancements in their technology, new products may be introduced with even lower risks than the current ones.

The report also explains that tobacco smoke, generated by combustion, contains approximately 7,000 detected compounds, including hundreds of known toxic compounds such as carbon monoxide, and 70 known carcinogens. However, the toxicity and complexity of aerosols produced by e-cigarettes are significantly lower.

Researchers at the National Autonomous University of Mexico's Institute of Nuclear Sciences (Sussman Boston University) believe that the aerosol from e-cigarettes consists of liquid particles with very low toxicity in terms of chemical composition.

A report suggests that e-cigarettes can assist adults in quitting smoking. It is important for every smoker to completely quit smoking, using various methods including medication, nicotine replacement therapy, and psychological support. However, most healthcare systems in Latin American countries do not provide these options for smokers, and this needs to change in the future. In the meantime, e-cigarettes can serve as an alternative to help smokers quit after a certain period of time.

The entire report also emphasized the role that e-cigarettes play in combating adult smoking. It further points out that only when doctors and health associations engage in the formulation of public health policies, can the current situation be changed, decisions based on scientific evidence can be made, and it would benefit patients, especially smokers.