# data[].attributes.body
1) is vaping safer than smoking cigs?
2)is vaping an effective tool to help someone quit smoking?
3)How much nicotine is in a cig compared to a vape?

# data[].attributes.body
1)How Much nicotine is contained in one juul pod?
2)How can vaping lead to other types of addiction?

3)Juuling and Smoking cigarettes are both harmful for your lungs, but also a waste of money. You could be saving your money for college, a car, etc. Or even spending it on things far more positive. Vaping/smoking can impact your future negatively.

# data[].attributes.body
Smoking, of any type, can be extremely harmful to the human body an countless ways.

# data[].attributes.body
Why does nicotine affect your body in the ways descried in the article?

# data[].attributes.headline
Why do teenagers smoke knowing the risk what can happen to them?

# data[].attributes.subject
Why do teenagers smoke knowing the risk what can happen to them?

# data[].attributes.body
do teens vape because they think its cool?

# data[].attributes.headline
1) How can you tell if someone is addicted to vaping 

# data[].attributes.subject
1) How can you tell if someone is addicted to vaping 

# data[].attributes.body
2) how much nicotine is in vape juice compared to cigarettes

Teens may have the urge to vape due to stress from school, work, or life at home

# data[].attributes.headline
is vaping healthier than smoking cigarettes ?  

# data[].attributes.subject
is vaping healthier than smoking cigarettes ?  

# data[].attributes.body
how bad could it effect your future?

# data[].attributes.body
Can juuling/ vapeing permanently affect your brain?

# data[].attributes.headline
Do kids or teenagers vape because of the flavors or them  being stressed?

# data[].attributes.subject
Do kids or teenagers vape because of the flavors or them  being stressed?

# data[].attributes.body
1) is vaping better than smoking cigarettes for a person's health?

2) how can vaping lead to addiction?

whether you're vaping or smoking cigarettes it's still bad for your lungs and you shouldn't waste your money on it.

# data[].attributes.headline
1) Why do people feel its worth the risk? 

# data[].attributes.subject
1) Why do people feel its worth the risk? 

# data[].attributes.body
2) Do the symptoms go away once the person quits?

# data[].attributes.body
1) what are some common effects between smoking and vaping.
2) name one reason why the healing process is slowed in those who vape
3) name one reason why vaping may be safer than smoking

# data[].attributes.headline
1) what is the difference between smoking and vaping?

# data[].attributes.subject
1) what is the difference between smoking and vaping?

# data[].attributes.body
2) How does vaping affect people long term

# data[].attributes.body
1) Why are cigarettes worst than vaping
(Explain).

# data[].attributes.body
1) What are the long term effects and how bad are they?

2) Why do kids want to try vaping?

# data[].attributes.headline
1) Is vaping significantly better for one's health compared to smoking a cigarette?               2) Describe according to the article what makes people believe that vaping is better than smoking

# data[].attributes.subject
1) Is vaping significantly better for one's health compared to smoking a cigarette?               2) Describe according to the article what makes people believe that vaping is better than smoking

# data[].attributes.body
What factors can lead to juuling?
How can juuling lead to addiction?

# data[].attributes.body
Why are 12 to 13 year old's interested in vaping?

# data[].attributes.headline
1) Why do young people feel the need to vape?

# data[].attributes.subject
1) Why do young people feel the need to vape?

# data[].attributes.body
2) How are vaping and smoking different?

Vaping is a waste of money and is harmful. They both cause damage that are not worth it in the long run.

# data[].attributes.body
do they still blow up

# data[].attributes.body
1. how much nicotine is in one juul pod?

2. what is the age in order to purchase a vape product?

Vaping is an alternative to smoking but is not helping society. It is not worth spending your money on.

# data[].attributes.body
1. which can cause  more damage to you Vaping or cigarettes
2.How can vaping be safer then cigarettes
3. why do younger people show much interest in vaping

# data[].attributes.body
2. How harmful can a vape be?

# data[].attributes.body
2. Are e-cigarettes better than cigarettes even though they are bad

# data[].attributes.headline
1. Explain the effects of vaping with liquids that don't contain nicotine. 

# data[].attributes.subject
1. Explain the effects of vaping with liquids that don't contain nicotine. 

# data[].attributes.body
2. Compare and contrast the effects of vaping and smoking.

My opinion:
Just because vaping seems 'safe' or 'safer than smoking" doesn't mean it is, and vaping isn't worth the risk because it poses health risks.

# data[].attributes.headline
1.) Why do vapes appeal to younger people so much?

# data[].attributes.subject
1.) Why do vapes appeal to younger people so much?

# data[].attributes.body
2.) What are the similarities and differences between vapes and cigarettes?

# data[].attributes.headline
1. Why do people choose to keep vaping knowing the consequences?

# data[].attributes.subject
1. Why do people choose to keep vaping knowing the consequences?

# data[].attributes.body
2. Compare the health issues to cigarettes to vaping health issues.
3. I really don't understand how some people thinking vaping is cool.

# data[].attributes.headline
1) why does vaping affect kids more than adults 

# data[].attributes.subject
1) why does vaping affect kids more than adults 

# data[].attributes.body
2) do kids realize the dangers of smoking

# data[].attributes.headline
1. what are the benefits of e-cigarettes instead of regular cigarettes.

# data[].attributes.subject
1. what are the benefits of e-cigarettes instead of regular cigarettes.

# data[].attributes.body
2. why are they sold to kids

# data[].attributes.body
1. Explain how kids are having easy access to e-cigs when the age to buy them is 21?

2. What are some of the leading flavors that appeal to kids?

# data[].attributes.headline
why is juuling so appealing to young kids 

# data[].attributes.subject
why is juuling so appealing to young kids 

# data[].attributes.body
what makes e cigs better than regular cigarettes

# data[].attributes.headline
1.  Explain why vaping is becoming so popular in high schools.

# data[].attributes.subject
1.  Explain why vaping is becoming so popular in high schools.

# data[].attributes.body
2. Justify what vapors can do to the cells inside the throat and mouth.

I feel like people now are just doing it to seem cool, and they constantly will talk about it. Most juuls/ vapes are being used because they want to fit in, meanwhile they keep using everyday soon becoming addicted which isn't good.

# data[].attributes.body
What are the specific ingredients in vapes compered to cigarettes?

Does vaping help with anxiety like cigarettes help some people with anxiety?

I feel like most people just do it because they see other people do it and they are seen as cool, but usually people don't care what the risks are

# data[].attributes.body
1. how did vaping become popular with younger kids?
2. what is in a vape that is killing the cells?

i feel like people are doing it to be cool. the people who use juuls/vapes what validation, as in they want to look cool.

# data[].attributes.body
1. How is vaping more concealed than cigarettes?

2. What are the contents of a vape pod?

3. How much money has the JUUL brand make?

# data[].attributes.headline
1: Compare and Contrast the differences and similarities of smoking and vaping. 

# data[].attributes.subject
1: Compare and Contrast the differences and similarities of smoking and vaping. 

# data[].attributes.body
2: Classify why vaping is harmful to your mouth

# data[].attributes.body
1.)Compare vaping to actual smoking.

2.)Explain why young kids believe that vaping is better than smoking.

The article proves how vaping is no more better than actual smoking. The article even states how the cough that smokers usually get, people who vape are also getting. Meaning that vaping gives the same effect that smoking does proving that it is not any better.

# data[].attributes.body
Explain one reason vape is so harmful to your system and what it does to your cells

What makes vape and e-cigarettes so appealing to youth?

Statement: I believe that if you're trying to stop smoking cigarettes, then it's alright to vape, even though vape has bad effects on the body.

# data[].attributes.body
what are long term effects of juuling and vaping?

# data[].attributes.body
1.How does Juul or any other smoking device harm you?
2.what makes vape so popular

# data[].attributes.headline
1: Classify what gum damage caused by vaping can lead to.

# data[].attributes.subject
1: Classify what gum damage caused by vaping can lead to.

# data[].attributes.body
2: Compare and Contrast what makes smoking and vaping different

My opinion: Just because it isn't illegal doesn't mean its ok to do it. I feel like some people think its ok to smoke and vape because it isn't against the law, when in  reality it does terrible things to your body and can make you really sick.

# data[].attributes.headline
1. Why do wounds heal sl in people who vape? 

# data[].attributes.subject
1. Why do wounds heal sl in people who vape? 

# data[].attributes.body
2. How did the chemicals in the e-cigarettes become activated?
3.One of the reasons why teens became addicted is because of the various fruity and candy flavors.

# data[].attributes.body
2)what so harmful about vaping?

statement) the reason that teenagers want to vape is because of the variety of flavors.

# data[].attributes.body
1) Why are vapes so addictive?

2) How much nicotine is in 1 juul pod?

# data[].attributes.body
1) What are long term effects of e-cigarettes

2)What chemicals are in vapes

3)Teens are easily tricked that vaping is safer because of the various chemicals cigarettes and vapes don't share

# data[].attributes.body
Why is it so easy for teens to get vapes?
How can parents prevent their kids from vaping?
I think that teens start vaping because they have been told that smoking is bad and they think that vaping is okay.

# data[].attributes.headline
A.) What do teenagers find appealing about vaping? 

# data[].attributes.subject
A.) What do teenagers find appealing about vaping? 

# data[].attributes.body
B.) What are companies doing to stop teen vaping?

# data[].attributes.body
1)Why is vape so appealing to teenagers?
2) What is so harmful that is being inhaled?

# data[].attributes.body
Why is it so easy for teenagers to get a vape or e-cigarette?
Why do you think that so many teenagers do it despite the warnings from their teachers and other people around them?
People believe that using e cigarettes are less harmful because it "contains less nicotine." Because it contains any nicotine makes it harmful.

# data[].attributes.body
1)Why are teenagers interested in vaping or even smoking?
2) How can parents prevent their kids from vaping?
Personally my opinion on the matter as to weather or not smoking or vaping is fine for teens is that it is wrong. Despite the health hazards there is no real reason to be smoking anyway.

# data[].attributes.body
1) What are some long term effects of vaping
2) Why do vapes cause people to vape more

# data[].attributes.body
1. Explain a short-term effect that comes after using an e-cigarette.
2. How do teens gain access to e-cigarette?

I believe teenagers are being easily influenced to use e-cigarettes because they are being tricked to believe that they are safer than smoking. Which in fact is incorrect and vaping is as harmful or even more harmful than smoking.

# data[].attributes.body
1. Using the article, what is one long term effect that e-cigarettes have on a teens mind and body.
2. Explain why vaping can irritate a students lungs?

I believe that e-cigarettes are luring in teens because of the child-like nicotine flavors and teens think that vaping is less harmful than smoking.

# data[].attributes.body
1) Compare and contrast the effects of smoking and vaping on your body.

2) Using the section of the article titled "Teens lured by fruit flavors", explain what makes teens more attracted to vapes rather than cigarettes.

I believe that vaping is as bad as smoking regular cigarettes. Vaping seems harmless and fun when really, it is dangerous to every ones health.  It lures in people based off of their fruit-flavored nicotine juices.

# data[].attributes.body
How can we educate teens on the harm of juuling and vaping?
When will we see long term effects, and how will we act on them?

I think juuling and vaping is bad, whether there is nicotine or not. Teens are giving themselves nicotine addictions at young ages, which I do not support.

# data[].attributes.headline
1)What are the similarities between the long term effects of smoking or vaping?

# data[].attributes.subject
1)What are the similarities between the long term effects of smoking or vaping?

# data[].attributes.body
2) How easy is it to obtain juuls or vapes?

I believe that juuls and vapes are just as harmful and toxic as cigarettes. But what I wonder is that if scientists know how harmful these things are, how come they haven't been banned?

# data[].attributes.headline
How does Juul or any other smoking device harm you?

# data[].attributes.subject
How does Juul or any other smoking device harm you?

# data[].attributes.body
What are the long terms effects of vaping?

# data[].attributes.body
1) What are long term effects of vaping?
2) What chemicals are in vapes?

it doesn't matter which one you are using they are both very harmful

# data[].attributes.body
1)What chemicals with juuls and other vapes cause cancer ?

2) What are the long term side affects of vaping/juuling and how serious are they

# data[].attributes.headline
1) can e cigarettes actually cause cancer or is that just a possibility  

# data[].attributes.subject
1) can e cigarettes actually cause cancer or is that just a possibility  

# data[].attributes.body
2) are there any other vaping techniques that can make the e liquid toxic

# data[].attributes.headline
1) Can vaping or smoking affect your relationships with people?

# data[].attributes.subject
1) Can vaping or smoking affect your relationships with people?

# data[].attributes.headline
1) Why do so many teens believe that vaping isn't bad for you or your health?  

# data[].attributes.subject
1) Why do so many teens believe that vaping isn't bad for you or your health?  

# data[].attributes.body
2) What are the long term effects of vaping?

Many people believe that using e-cigarettes are safer because it contains "less harmful" ingredients. However research shows it can actually be more harmful

# data[].attributes.headline
1) Why do so many teens believe that vaping is cool, when all it does is hurt you?

# data[].attributes.subject
1) Why do so many teens believe that vaping is cool, when all it does is hurt you?

# data[].attributes.body
2) Explain why vape marketing targeted juuls and vaping to the younger generation? Why would they want to harm the minds and bodies of young people?

I believe that the teen generation is drawn to vaping because they don't know the harmful affects of vaping on their health. They think vaping is "cool"   when actually all it does is slowly takes over you.

# data[].attributes.body
1.)Why are people under the impression that e-cigarettes are not bad for their health?
2.)How does vaping affect a persons health, and how can this get worse the more they do it.
3.)Why do people deny being addicted to vaping and smoking?

I believe that minors should not be able to buy e-cigs because they can misuse them, and is also not good for anyones health in any way.

# data[].attributes.body
What are health professionals doing to stop teens from vaping?

Explain how vaping could be physically harmful to someone body (ie, how could it make someones mouth bleed)

I think vaping can help smokers stop or at least help them control their addiction.

# data[].attributes.body
1. why do vapes/juuls appeal to teens so much?
2. Why are these pieces of actual garbage allowed? Guess they like suicide, reminds me of Danny Devito... America, Land of the Free, sounds good on paper but in practice... Not as good as I thought it would be because DAB DAB DAB LOOK I'M COOL GIVE ME ATTENTION, GUYS! VAPE AND JUUL MAKE ME COOL! This is why I hate socializing sometimes.
3. Ignore half of the 2nd question, just answer the question and don't pay attention to my crazed rant.

# data[].attributes.body
1 how does vaping effect people long term?
2 why do peoples mouths blead when they vape?

# data[].attributes.body
1)how has vaping affected its users mentally and physically?
2) specify the reasons why teenagers may start or continue vaping?

# data[].attributes.body
1) Compare and contrast the effects of smoking and vaping

2)Explain how vaping effects your mouth

3)How are young people get access to these cigarettes?

# data[].attributes.body
1.  Why does vaping appeal to the youth?
2. How are the youth getting access to vape tools?
3. Why are new e-cigarettes being created when there are risk effecting all ages? Specifically the youth.

# data[].attributes.body
1 ) Explain how vaping negatively effect the immune system.
2 ) Why are students as young as 12 and 13 so likely to begin vaping?
3 ) Why do people lean towards vaping rather than starting to smoke cigarettes?

# data[].attributes.body
How are the effects of vaping similar to the effects of smoking cigarettes? How are they different?
Do you think flavors of vapes and e-cigarettes will be banned?
Is it true that vapes include less harmful ingredients ?

# data[].attributes.headline
1.  which similarities to the marketing in the cigarettes industry does vaping use and why does this make it appealing to kids. explain.

# data[].attributes.subject
1.  which similarities to the marketing in the cigarettes industry does vaping use and why does this make it appealing to kids. explain.

# data[].attributes.body
2. based on the article, do you thing marketing vapes in general will become illegal, or just to kids, or just the flavors? state your opinion with supporting evidence from the text.

3. I believe that the statement the article is trying to get across is that due to marketing trick and lies about how vaping is healthier than smoking more kids are vaping. due to this, many people who vape will get diseases and other physical health problems. in other words, vaping is just as bad and is going down the same route as cigarettes.

# data[].attributes.body
1. What are the benefits from vaping rather than smoking a regular cigarette?

2. According to the article, why do students, teenagers and others underage choose to use e-cigarettes when they were never exposed to an actual cigarettes affects?

3. The article used statistics to prove an arguable point. Their facts were valid but that does not accumulate to better the fact that there is no true way to stop vaping in any age group.

# data[].attributes.body
1. Can vaping effect your actions with family and friends ?
2. What are some similarity effects a vape and cigarettes
have ?
3. Does vaping stop smokers from smoking cigarettes?

# data[].attributes.body
1. What long term effects can vaping lead to? How is it similar to regular cigarettes?

2. Based on what the article says about flavors for e-cigarettes, do you think this will be something banned in the long run? Why?

3. The belief is that many people think vaping is safer because there's "less harmful ingredients" used, but reality shows there can actually be more harm with vaping.

# data[].attributes.body
2.

# data[].attributes.body
1.

# data[].attributes.body
1.

2.

# data[].attributes.headline
1. What are the long term effects that can happen form vaping?  

# data[].attributes.subject
1. What are the long term effects that can happen form vaping?  

# data[].attributes.body
2. Explain how vaping and e-cigarettes are similar.
3. The belief is that many people believe that vaping is better because there are "Less harmful ingredients" in vapes, but at the same time there actually can have more harmful ingredients in vapes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When Irfan Rahman talked to young vapers, some complained of bleeding mouths and throats. And these bloody sores seemed slow to heal. Such reports concerned this toxicologist at the University of Rochester in New York. So he decided to investigate what the vapors inhaled from electronic cigarettes might be doing to mouth cells.

Last October, his team showed those vapors inflame mouth cells in ways that could potentially promote gum disease. That gum damage can destroy the tissues that hold teeth in place. So severe gum disease could lead to tooth loss.

But that's hardly the end of it.

Vapers inhale those same gases and particles into their lungs. Rahman wondered what effects those vapors might have on cells there. One gauge would be to test how long any lung-cell damage took to heal. And his latest data confirm that e-cigarette vapors also make it hard for lung cells to repair damage.

Students as young as 12 or 13 are now more likely to vape than to smoke. Many are under the impression that because e-cigs don't contain tobacco, they pose little risk to health. Wrong.

Over the past few months, research has turned up evidence that vaping can pose many brand new risks. The vapors mess with immunity, some studies show. "Smoker's cough" and bloody sores have begun showing up in teen vapers. The hotter a vaped liquid gets, the harsher its effects on human cells. And a relatively new vaping behavior called "dripping" ups the heat. This threatens to intensify a teen's risks from those vapors.

Some new data even suggest that e-cig vapors may contain cancer-causing chemicals.

"There are a lot of potentially harmful substances in e-cigarettes. If you're a teen with your whole life in front of you, why take that risk?" asks Rob McConnell. He's an internal medicine specialist at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles.

The newly emerging data suggest that adolescents ignore these risks at their peril.

Impaired wound healing

Cells in the body face constant damage from foreign substances, infections and injury. Most times, nothing bad happens to their host. That's because the body has a system in place to heal itself. Most major organs have special cells - fibroblasts (FY-broh-blasts) - that repair damaged or injured tissue.

Fibroblasts make up the connective tissues that keep organs in place. But when injured, these cells morph into wound-healers. "If you cut your hand, fibroblasts are the guys that are going to come in and help heal it," explains Rahman.

In their wound-healing form, fibroblasts at the edges of a cut will shrink. This causes the wound to close up. This squeezing or contraction of the skin takes a lot of energy. Fortunately, fibroblasts are powered by cellular engines. Called mitochondria (My-toh-KON-dree-uh), these tiny powerhouses turn food (sugar) into fuel.

ZEISS Microscopy/Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY 2.0)

In the lab, Rahman and his colleagues grew lung fibroblasts in Petri dishes. Then they cut into the community of growing cells to mimic a wound. Afterward, they exposed the growing cells to e-cigarette vapors.

As expected, the fibroblasts morphed into wound-healing cells. But unexpectedly, they didn't close up the cut. Curious, Rahman looked more closely at the cellular machinery. Some mitochondria had been destroyed. The fibroblasts simply had run out of the energy they needed before they could successfully squeeze the wound closed.

Rahman's team described its findings March 3 in Scientific Reports.

It's not clear yet if the fibroblast damage that Rahman showed in the lab signals that wounds will heal more slowly in people who vape. After all, in the lab, scientists can manipulate one variable at a time while holding other factors constant. But in the body, many processes will be at work all at once. This can make it harder to tease out whether such lab tests mimic well what would happen to an otherwise healthy person.

And that's why Rahman now hopes to compare rates of wound healing in people who vape to rates in those who don't. For now, however, he's worried that what he saw in the lab may indeed mimic risks to people.

Smoker's cough becomes vaper's cough?

Inhaling pollution can irritate the lungs. And when the assaulting particles are breathed in regularly, the lungs tend to respond by triggering a cough that won't go away, explains McConnell at USC. He has been studying the effects of air pollution in kids. Inhaling irritating particles or gases may lead to bronchitis (Bron-KY-tis). That's when the airways that channel oxygen to the lungs become irritated and inflamed.

AlexRaths/iStockphoto

Bronchitis may cause wheezing, too, and coughs that bring up thick mucus known as phlegm (FLEM). The germs that cause colds, flu and bacterial infections can sometimes trigger bronchitis. So can breathing in heavily polluted air, tobacco smoke or certain chemical fumes.

When these symptoms don't go away, the bronchitis is called chronic (KRON-ik). And cigarette smoking is its most common cause. That's why chronic bronchitis is typically referred to as "smoker's cough."

McConnell's team decided to look for signs of bronchitis in vaping teens. After all, he explains, "There are a lot of these irritants in e-cigarette vapor."

The researchers asked 2,000 students in the Los Angeles, Calif., area about their vaping habits. All were in their last two years of high school. The researchers also asked the teens about any respiratory symptoms. These could include coughs or phlegm.

Anyone who reported a daily cough for at least three straight months was judged to have chronic bronchitis. A student with persistent phlegm or congestion for three months or more that was not accompanied by a cold or flu also was suspected of having chronic bronchitis.

About 500 of the students said they had vaped at some point. And about 200 had vaped within the past 30 days. Those recent vapers were about twice as likely to have chronic bronchitis as were kids who had never vaped, the researchers report. Students who had vaped in the past, but not in the last month, also were about as likely as current vapers to have chronic bronchitis.

The researchers looked for other possible causes of the teens' persistent coughs and phlegm. One of these was local air pollution. They also looked at the teens' exposure to triggers for allergic asthma. Such triggers can include molds and pet dander. Yet even accounting for all of that did not erase the link between vaping and chronic bronchitis.

The findings, first announced in November, will appear in an upcoming issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

These data also support what has been seen in studies conducted in human and animal cells, Rahman notes.

It worries McConnell that vapers show some of the same lung symptoms as cigarette smokers. It also worries him that more teens are taking up vaping. E-cigarette use grew an astounding 900 percent among high school students between 2011 and 2015.

Cigarette smokers with chronic bronchitis often develop permanent lung damage as they get older. Researchers don't know yet whether long-term vapers will too.

"People haven't been using e-cigarettes long enough to answer that question," observes McConnell. E-cigarettes have been available in the United States only since 2007.

Teens lured by fruity flavors

A third new study investigated the role of flavor in e-cig use, especially by teens.

E-cigarettes don't burn tobacco as true cigarettes do. Yet they still are considered tobacco products. That's because the liquids that are vaporized in e-cigarettes usually contain nicotine. It's the addictive substance found in tobacco leaves - one that also gives cigarettes their stimulant effect, or "buzz."

Lindsay Fox/Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY 2.0)

A team of researchers led by Li-Ling Huang at the University of North Carolina (UNC) in Chapel Hill wanted to know whether the e-liquid's flavor affected how safe people thought vaping was. To do this, they reviewed 40 studies on flavored tobacco products. These included flavored e-cigs. Most of the studies had been conducted between 2010 and 2016.

Both tobacco users and non-users said tobacco products were more appealing when the products had pleasing flavors. Younger people were particularly interested in fruity and candy-flavored products. In fact, this is one reason the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2009 banned cigarettes flavored with anything but menthol. It was to limit their appeal to kids.

"It turns out that an interest in flavors is one of the main reasons that youth try e-cigarettes," says Adam Goldstein of UNC. An author of the new study, his past work had focused on tobacco use.

Teens also tended to perceive pleasantly flavored products as less harmful than tobacco-flavored ones, his team's data show. Their findings are due to appear in an upcoming issue of Tobacco Control.

Goldstein says it's important to note that just because something doesn't taste like tobacco doesn't mean it is safe. Studies have shown that some flavor compounds in e-liquids (such as cinnamon extract) appear to become harmful when heated in an e-cigarette.

Review studies like this one point to potentially important trends. Such studies may help shape new policies, Goldstein says. (Policies are actions taken by government, companies or other large groups.)

Goldstein believes that removing flavorings would be one way to discourage kids from experimenting with e-cigs. "Research suggests that if you remove the flavors, far fewer youth around the country would use any tobacco product," he says. And that would put fewer kids at risk for vaping-related damage to the mouth and lungs.

Toxic metals in e-liquids

At the heart of every e-cigarette is a metal coil used to heat up the flavored e-liquid that will become a vapor. Scientists have found a number of harmful chemicals in e-cigarette vapors. Some can cause cancer. Among these are formaldehyde (For-MAAL-de-hide) and acetaldehyde (Ass-et-AAL-de-hide). Previous studies had shown that some e-liquids that were considered harmless could become toxic - but only after they were heated by an e-cig's especially hot coil.

Now Catherine Hess of the University of California, Berkeley, and her colleagues have turned up traces of toxic metals in the e-liquids used in five different brands of e-cigarettes. Those liquids came packaged from the manufacturer in non-refillable e-cigs. The scientists chose to look at these "first-generation" e-cigarettes because they are inexpensive, which can make them especially attractive to teens.

Alter_Photo/iStockphoto

The most concerning of these metals were nickel, chromium and manganese. The amounts of them varied between brands. All three metals occur naturally in rock formations all over the planet. Inside the body, though, they can cause trouble. Research suggests that nickel and certain forms of chromium may cause cancer. Manganese can harm the nervous system.

The researchers measured only the amount of toxic metals in the e-liquids, not how much ended up in the vapor. "More research is needed to see whether e-cigarette users are being exposed to these chemicals when they inhale - and what the long-term effects of those exposures might be," says Rahman, who was not involved in this study.

Hess's team published its results in the January Environmental Research.

Another new study turned up benzene in e-cig vapors. This chemical is known to pose a cancer risk to people. Chemist James Pankow and his team at Portland State University in Oregon don't know the chemical's source. Benzene is, however, a toxic component of cigarette smoke. The levels in e-cig vapors were not as high as in cigarette smoke. Still, Pankow argues, that does not mean that vaping poses little benzene risk.

"The fact that vaping can deliver benzene levels many times higher than those found in the ambient [air] - where it's already recognized as a cancer risk - should be of concern to anyone using e-cigarettes," he says. Higher-power e-cigs, which burn hotter, produced the most benzene in the Portland State tests. So, Pankow now urges, "Please stay away from high power if it's available on your device."

His team published its findings March 8 in the journal PLOS ONE.

Concerns about dripping

Newer-generation e-cigs allow users to choose - and change - what flavorings they heat up in their devices. Most vapers choose a liquid with nicotine (that addictive, stimulant found in tobacco). To get the biggest nicotine hit from each puff, some vapers take the outside cover off of their e-cigarette and use an eyedropper to "drip" the liquid directly onto the device's coil.

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E-liquids reach higher temperatures when dripped directly onto the coil. This also creates a bigger vapor cloud and provides a bigger throat hit. A new study now raises special concerns for teens who drip.

Allowing the liquid to get superhot can transform harmless chemicals in the e-liquid into toxic ones. (Note: At least one recent study showed that the hotter the vaped liquid became, the more likely it was to undergo such a toxic transformation.) And dripping makes this super-heating likely. Some people even use attachments, called atomizers, to do this more effectively.

Vaping hobbyists that do smoke tricks may have popularized dripping, says Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin. A psychiatrist at Yale University in New Haven, Conn., she's been studying vaping behaviors in teens. Many now drip, she and her colleagues report.

This team surveyed 1,080 Connecticut high schoolers who said they vaped. One in every four teen vapers said he or she had tried dripping.

This is the first time any study has reported on the popularity of dripping in teens. (Researchers don't yet know how common dripping is among adults.) The new statistics appear in the February Pediatrics.

Most teens who dripped said they had hoped it would let them make thicker vapor clouds or give the vapor a stronger taste. At present, little is known about the health risks of this type of vaping, Krishnan-Sarin notes.

And that worries her. "There's great concern," she says, "that kids are being exposed to higher levels of known carcinogens this way." Researchers don't yet know if this is true. And that's because no one has yet studied whether more of these compounds get into the body when people drip instead of vaping normally.

For now, Krishnan-Sarin says a bigger vapor cloud or more flavorful hit probably isn't worth the risk. "You don't know what you're exposing yourself to," she points out, and no one should assume that the e-liquids and the vapors they generate are harmless.

Power Words
More About Power Words

acetaldehyde A colorless liquid that is in the cascade of breakdown products that develops when the body metabolizes alcohol. Manufacturers use the chemical to make a range of products, including vinegar, perfume and flavorings. According to the U.S. National Toxicology Program, this chemical is also "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen."

adolescent A transitional stage of physical and psychological development that begins at the onset of puberty, typically between the ages of 11 and 13, and ends with adulthood.

asthma A disease affecting the body's airways, which are the tubes through which animals breathe. Asthma obstructs these airways through swelling, the production of too much mucus or a tightening of the tubes. As a result, the body can expand to breathe in air, but loses the ability to exhale appropriately. The most common cause of asthma is an allergy. Asthma is a leading cause of hospitalization and the top chronic disease responsible for kids missing school.

behavior The way a person or other organism acts towards others, or conducts itself.

cancer Any of more than 100 different diseases, each characterized by the rapid, uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. The development and growth of cancers, also known as malignancies, can lead to tumors, pain and death.

carcinogen A substance, compound or other agent (such as radiation) that causes cancer.

cell The smallest structural and functional unit of an organism. Typically too small to see with the naked eye, it consists of watery fluid surrounded by a membrane or wall. Animals are made of anywhere from thousands to trillions of cells, depending on their size. Some organisms, such as yeasts, molds, bacteria and some algae, are composed of only one cell.

chemical A substance formed from two or more atoms that unite (become bonded together) in a fixed proportion and structure. For example, water is a chemical made of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. Its chemical symbol is H ₂ O. Chemical can also be an adjective that describes properties of materials that are the result of various reactions between different compounds.

chronic A condition, such as an illness (or its symptoms, including pain), that lasts for a long time.

coil Concentric rings or spirals formed by winding wire or other fiber around and around a core.

colleague Someone who works with another; a co-worker or team member.

compound (often used as a synonym for chemical) A compound is a substance formed from two or more chemical elements united in fixed proportions. For example, water is a compound made of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. Its chemical symbol is H ₂ O.

connective tissue Certain groups of cells that attach to form the boundaries for - and interfaces between - many structures throughout the body.

dander Flakes of skin in an animal's fur or hair.

e-cigarette (short for electronic cigarette) Battery-powered device that disperses nicotine and other chemicals as tiny airborne particles that users can inhale. These devices heat up a flavored liquid until it evaporates, producing vapors. People use these devices are known as vapers.

e-liquid A term for the solutions heated to the evaporation point in an electronic cigarette. These solutions are the basis of the vapors that will be inhaled. The liquid typically contains a solvent into which flavorings and nicotine have been dissolved.

factor Something that plays a role in a particular condition or event; a contributor.

fibroblast A type of cell found in connective tissue; it makes and releases proteins important in wound healing.

Food and Drug Administration (or FDA) A part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, FDA is charged with overseeing the safety of many products. For instance, it is responsible for making sure drugs are properly labeled, safe and effective; that cosmetics and food supplements are safe and properly labeled; and that tobacco products are regulated.

formaldehyde A widely used and toxic chemical that manufacturers add to plastics, resins, some fertilizers, dyes, medicines and embalming fluids. It's even in the treatments used to keep fabrics from wrinkling.

generation A group of individuals born about the same time or that are regarded as a single group. Your parents belong to one generation of your family, for example, and your grandparents to another. Similarly, you and everyone within a few years of your age across the planet are referred to as belonging to a particular generation of humans. The term also is sometimes extended to year classes of other animals or to types of inanimate objects (such as electronics or automobiles).

germ Any one-celled microorganism, such as a bacterium, fungal species or virus particle. Some germs cause disease. Others can promote the health of higher-order organisms, including birds and mammals. The health effects of most germs, however, remain unknown.

high school A designation for grades nine through twelve in the U.S. system of compulsory public education. High-school graduates may apply to colleges for further, advanced education.

immunity The ability of an organism to resist a particular infection or poison by providing cells to remove, kill or disarm the dangerous substance.

infection A disease that can spread from one organism to another. It's usually caused by some sort of germ.

journal (in science) A publication in which scientists share their research findings with the public.

manganese Chemical element with the atomic number 25. It's a hard gray metal in the transition series. Manganese is an important component of special steels.

mitochondria (sing. mitochondrion ) Structure in all cells (except bacteria and archaea) that break down nutrients and convert them into a form of energy known as ATP.

mucus A slimy substance produced in the lungs, nose, digestive system and other parts of the body to protect against infection. Mucus is made mainly of water but also includes salt and proteins such as mucins. Some animals use mucus for other purposes, such as to move across the ground or to defend themselves against predators.

nervous system The network of nerve cells and fibers that transmits signals between parts of the body.

nickel Number 28 on the periodic table of elements, this hard, silvery element resists oxidation and corrosion. That makes it a good coating for many other elements or for use in multi-metal alloys.

nicotine A colorless, oily chemical produced in tobacco and certain other plants. It creates the "buzz" associated with smoking. Highly addictive, nicotine is the substance that makes it hard for smokers to give up their use of cigarettes. The chemical is also a poison, sometimes used as a pesticide to kill insects and even some invasive snakes or frogs.

organ (in biology) Various parts of an organism that perform one or more particular functions. For instance, an ovary is an organ that makes eggs, the brain is an organ that interprets nerve signals and a plant's roots are organs that take in nutrients and moisture.

particle A minute amount of something.

pediatrics A field of medicine that has to do with children and especially child health. A doctor who works in this field is known as a pediatrician.

persistent An adjective for something that is long-lasting.

Petri dish A shallow, circular dish used to grow bacteria or other microorganisms.

pollutant A substance that taints something - such as the air, water, our bodies or products. Some pollutants are chemicals, such as pesticides. Others may be radiation, including excess heat or light. Even weeds and other invasive species can be considered a type of biological pollution.

respiratory Of or referring to parts of the body involved in breathing (called the respiratory system). It includes the lungs, nose, sinuses, throat and other large airways.

risk The chance or mathematical likelihood that some bad thing might happen. Or the hazard - or peril - itself.

statistics The practice or science of collecting and analyzing numerical data in large quantities and interpreting their meaning. A professional who works in this field is called a statistician.

stimulant Something that triggers an action. (in medicine) Drugs that can stimulate the brain, triggering a feeling of more energy and alertness. Caffeine, for instance, is a mild stimulant that for a short while enhances alertness and helps fight drowsiness. Other stimulants, including some dangerous illegal drugs - such as cocaine - have stronger or longer-lasting effects.

tissue Made of cells, any of the distinct types of materials that make up animals, plants or fungi. Cells within a tissue work as a unit to perform a particular function in living organisms. Different organs of the human body, for instance, often are made from many different types of tissues.

tobacco A plant cultivated for its leaves, which many people burn in cigars, cigarettes, and pipes. Tobacco leaves also are sometimes chewed. The main active drug in tobacco leaves is nicotine, a powerful stimulant (and poison).

toxic Poisonous or able to harm or kill cells, tissues or whole organisms. The measure of risk posed by such a poison is its toxicity.

vaping (v. to vape) A slang term for the use of e-cigarettes because these devices emit vapor, not smoke. People who do this are referred to as vapers.

vapors Fumes released when a liquid transforms to a gas, usually as a result of heating.

variable (in mathematics) A letter used in a mathematical expression that may take on different values. (in experiments) A factor that can be changed, especially one allowed to change in a scientific experiment. For instance, when researchers measure how much insecticide it might take to kill a fly, they might change the dose or the age at which the insect is exposed. Both the dose and age would be variables in this experiment.

Citations

Journal: J.F. Pankow et al. Benzene formation in electronic cigarettes. PLOS ONE. March 8, 2017. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173055.

Journal: W. Lei et al. Myofibroblast differentiation and its functional properties are inhibited by nicotine and e-cigarette via mitochondrial OXPHOS complex III. Scientific Reports. Vol. 7, March 3, 2017. doi: 10.1038/srep43213.

Journal: S. Krishnan-Sarin. E-cigarettes and "dripping" among high-school youth. Pediatrics. Vol. 139, March 2017, p. e 20163224. doi: 10.1542/peds.2016-3224.

Journal: C.A. Hess et al. E-cigarettes as a source of toxic and potentially carcinogenic metals. Environmental Research. Vol. 152, January 28, 2017, p. 221. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.09.026.

Journal: L.L. Huang et al. Impact of non-menthol flavours in tobacco products on perceptions and use among youth, young adults and adults: A systematic review. Tobacco Control. Published early online November 21, 2016. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-053196.

Journal: R. McConnell et al. Electronic-cigarette use and respiratory symptoms in adolescents. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Early online November 2, 2016. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201604-0804OC.

Journal: S. Talih. "Direct dripping": A high-temperature, high-formaldehyde emission electronic cigarette use method. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. Vol. 18, April 2016, p. 453. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntv080.

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Lindsey Konkel likes to write stories about the environment and health for Science News for Students. She has degrees in biology and journalism. She has three cats, Misty, Trumpet and Charlotte, and one dog, Lucky.

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Concerns explode over new health risks of vaping | Science News for Students

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When Irfan Rahman talked to young vapers, some complained of bleeding mouths and throats. And these bloody sores seemed slow to heal. Such reports concerned this toxicologist at the University of Rochester in New York. So he decided to investigate what the vapors inhaled from electronic cigarettes might be doing to mouth cells.