For centuries, people have been smoking cigarettes and marijuana. But recently, a new method called vaping has become popular. So, what does science say about vaping? Is it actually better for you than smoking?
When you smoke, the heat from the fire changes substances from a solid state to a vapor. In cigarettes, this releases nicotine, which enters your bloodstream through your lungs. This causes your heart rate to increase, your blood vessels to constrict, and dopamine to be released in your brain, making you feel more alert. However, because nicotine is a stimulant, when it wears off, you might feel a crash and crave more, which can lead to addiction.
With marijuana, the active component THC is released and follows a similar path into your body but with different effects. Smoking marijuana allows these compounds to reach your nervous system in about six seconds. However, smoking involves inhaling smoke, which contains partially burned particles that can create tar in your body. This can lead to cancer, blackened teeth, and damaged taste buds.
This is where vaping comes in. If you can heat the active components enough to become aerosolized without causing combustion, you can theoretically get the effects without the damage of smoke inhalation. Vaping usually involves a glass or metal chamber with an electrical current that heats it to a controlled temperature, creating vapor with minimal combustion. This means you inhale much less smoke.
For marijuana users, vaporizers are popular because they can heat the plant material to a specific temperature, usually between 185 to 210 degrees Celsius, to extract just the THC-containing vapor. For e-cigarettes, a liquid solution instead of dried tobacco is used. This e-liquid contains water, nicotine, a base, and sometimes flavorings, and vaporizes at a much lower temperature.
However, vaping isn’t without its risks. The e-liquid contains a base similar to those used in cosmetics and food, which helps maintain moisture. One common base, propylene glycol, can cause eye irritation and respiratory infections. The long-term effects of inhaling e-cigarettes are still being studied, and while the FDA has approved them in America, much remains unknown.
E-liquids can vary greatly between manufacturers, with minimal regulation for additives. Some have been found to contain diacetyl, a chemical that gives butter its taste. Inhaling this chemical can lead to lung scarring, known as “popcorn lung,” named after workers who inhaled it in a popcorn factory and suffered lung damage. This highlights the concern about the lack of quality control in e-cigarettes.
Current evidence suggests that vaporizers deliver nicotine with fewer harmful effects due to decreased carcinogenic products and smoke inhalation. However, “less harmful” does not mean “safe.” E-cigarettes with added flavors, like blueberry or grape, may contain other harmful chemicals, and secondhand smoke is still an issue. Exhaled particles from vaporizers, known as ultrafine particles, can affect lung health.
There are also concerns that because e-cigarettes are seen as healthier, they are becoming more appealing to young people. A study showed that e-cigarette use among teens in grades 6 to 12 increased from 6% to 20% over three years. On the other hand, much of what we know about the harmful effects of smoking comes from long-term studies, with cancers appearing much later in life. Since vaping is relatively new, we don’t have the same long-term studies, so we will have to wait to see what the future holds.
A special thanks to Audible for supporting this episode and offering a free audiobook at audible.com/asap. This week, we recommend the book “Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future” by Ashley Vance, which explores the life, work, and vision of Elon Musk. You can get a free copy at audible.com/asap or choose from a wide selection. They’re great for when you’re on the go. Don’t forget to ask your burning questions and subscribe for more weekly science videos!
Engage in a structured debate with your classmates. Divide into two groups, one supporting smoking and the other supporting vaping. Research and present arguments based on health impacts, societal effects, and economic factors. This will help you critically analyze the pros and cons of each method.
Conduct a research project on the chemical processes involved in smoking and vaping. Focus on how substances change state and the implications of these changes on health. Present your findings in a detailed report, highlighting the differences in chemical reactions between smoking and vaping.
In a controlled lab setting, simulate the process of smoking and vaping using safe materials. Observe the differences in residue and emissions. Document your observations and discuss how these differences might translate to health impacts.
Analyze case studies of individuals who have experienced health issues related to smoking and vaping. Compare and contrast their experiences, focusing on symptoms, treatments, and long-term health outcomes. Present your analysis in a class discussion.
Create a multimedia presentation predicting the future of smoking and vaping. Consider technological advancements, regulatory changes, and potential health discoveries. Use videos, infographics, and interviews to make your presentation engaging and informative.
Cigarettes and marijuana have been used for centuries, but only recently has the process of vaporizing these substances become popular. So, what does science have to say about this technology? Is it actually better for you?
When smoking, the heat from fire causes substances to change from a solid state to a vapor. In cigarettes, this releases nicotine, which is absorbed into your bloodstream through the lungs, leading to increased heart rate, constricted blood vessels, release of dopamine in the brain, and feelings of alertness. However, because nicotine is a stimulant, once it’s no longer present, users may experience a crash and crave more, which can ultimately lead to addiction.
In the case of marijuana, the active component THC is aerosolized and follows a similar pathway into your body but with different effects. Smoking marijuana allows the active compounds to reach your nervous system in about six seconds, unlike chewing tobacco or consuming edible marijuana, which takes much longer. However, smoking involves inhaling smoke, which consists of partially burned particles that can create tar in your body, leading to cancer-causing effects, blackened teeth, and destroyed taste buds.
This is where vaping comes in. If you can heat the active components enough to become aerosolized without starting a combustion reaction with other compounds, you can theoretically achieve fast effects without the damage of smoke inhalation. Vaping typically involves a glass or metal chamber with an electrical current passing through it, allowing it to heat to a controlled temperature and create vapor with minimal combustion. This means you inhale much less smoke.
For marijuana users, vaporizers have become popular because the plant material can be heated to a specific temperature, usually between 185 to 210 degrees Celsius, allowing just the THC-containing vapor to be extracted. For e-cigarettes, a liquid solution instead of dried tobacco has become popular. This e-liquid contains water, nicotine, a base, and occasionally flavorings, and vaporizes at a much lower temperature.
However, things can get tricky. The e-liquid contains a base similar to that used in cosmetics and food, which helps maintain moisture without creating sogginess. One common base, propylene glycol, is known to cause irritation to the eyes and respiratory infections. The long-term effects of prolonged inhalation of e-cigarettes are still being studied, and although the FDA has given its approval in America, much remains unknown.
E-liquids can also vary greatly between manufacturers, with minimal regulation for additives. Some have been found to contain diacetyl, a chemical known to give butter its buttery taste. Inhalation of this chemical can lead to scarring in the lungs, a condition known as “popcorn lung,” named after workers who inhaled it in a microwavable popcorn factory and suffered irreversible lung damage. This highlights the significant concern regarding the lack of quality control in e-cigarettes.
Current evidence suggests that vaporizers administer nicotine with fewer adverse effects due to decreased carcinogenic products and smoke inhalation. However, “less harmful” does not mean “safe.” E-cigarettes with added flavorings, such as blueberry or grape, have been found to contain other harmful chemicals, and secondhand smoke remains an issue. Exhaled particles from vaporizers, known as ultrafine particles, can affect pulmonary health.
There are also concerns that because e-cigarettes are perceived as healthier, they are becoming more appealing to young people. A study reported that the continued use of e-cigarettes among teens in grades 6 to 12 increased from 6% to 20% over three years. On the other hand, much of the information we have on the adverse effects of smoking comes from long-term studies, with cancers appearing much later in life. Since vaporizer use is relatively new, we simply don’t have the same access to longitudinal studies, so we will have to wait to see what the future brings.
A special thanks to Audible for supporting this episode and offering a free audiobook at audible.com/asap. This week, we recommend the book “Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future” by Ashley Vance, which explores the full spectacle and arc of the genius’s life, work, and vision. You can get a free copy at audible.com/asap or choose from a massive selection. We love them as they’re great for when you’re on the go. Don’t forget to ask your burning questions and subscribe for more weekly science videos!
Smoking – The act of inhaling and exhaling the smoke of tobacco or a drug – Smoking is a major cause of respiratory diseases and can significantly damage the lungs over time.
Vaping – The act of inhaling and exhaling the vapor produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device – Vaping is often marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, but it still poses health risks, especially to young people.
Nicotine – A toxic, colorless or yellowish oily liquid that is the chief active constituent of tobacco – Nicotine is highly addictive and can lead to long-term health issues such as heart disease and high blood pressure.
Marijuana – A psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant used primarily for medical or recreational purposes – While marijuana has been legalized in some areas for medical use, its effects on brain development in adolescents are still a concern.
Cancer – A disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body – Smoking is a leading cause of lung cancer, which is one of the most common and deadly forms of cancer worldwide.
Lungs – A pair of respiratory organs situated within the rib cage, responsible for inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide – The lungs are vital for breathing, and exposure to pollutants can severely impair their function.
E-cigarettes – Electronic devices that simulate the experience of smoking by producing an aerosol, often containing nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals – E-cigarettes have become popular among teenagers, raising concerns about nicotine addiction and health impacts.
Risks – The possibility of suffering harm or loss; a situation involving exposure to danger – The risks associated with smoking include increased chances of developing heart disease, stroke, and various types of cancer.
Health – The state of being free from illness or injury; overall physical and mental well-being – Maintaining good health requires a balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoiding harmful habits like smoking.
Addiction – A chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain – Addiction to nicotine can be difficult to overcome, often requiring professional help and support.
