By HARRY HURLEY
Political Columnist
Many years ago, a late, great dear friend of mine came to our broadcasting studio to show me something that was called an electronic cigarette. When he puffed on it, a blue light shined at the tip where the ash of a regular cigarette would glow.
It was designed to mimic the “pleasure,” the experience of smoking. It was supposed to help you to stop smoking. Also, as my friend exhaled, there was a pronounced cloud of smoke emitted.
He was so confident that it was safe. I was skeptical from the beginning. I asked, “What are the contents that you are inhaling and how can it be safe”? I have been fiercely and vocally opposed to the e-cigarette from the first time I saw it in action.
It’s now called vaping. It’s a dangerous epidemic. And, young adults and children are being attracted to it. The system is being used for nicotine delivery and tragically, it’s also being misused to smoke marijuana and other drugs.
The flavorings are also a big problem. The vaping craze is fueled by the fact that it has been largely unregulated to date by the federal and state governments.
Vaping has now led to deaths and illnesses. The liquid turns into vapor and is drawn in to the user’s mouth. The false premise is that because nothing is burned, that it is safer because the user is not inhaling the many harmful compounds found in the smoke of cigarettes.
A small study was performed in 2016. The conclusion was that the nicotine vaping products can cause lung inflammation and lung tissue damage. In some cases the damage is permanent. They also concluded that COPD developments is associated with this use.
A 2017 study on animals and e-cigarettes yielded that researchers found that exposure to e-cigarette vapor led to DNA and gene-level changes that may increase the risk of lung cancer.
It seemed to me from the beginning that cigarettes vs. e-cigarettes are akin to the scenario, from the frying pan into the fire.
No doubt, there are many more harmful chemicals in a tobacco cigarette versus the fewer chemicals present in an e-cigarette. However, the vapor bypasses the human digestive system processes and is introduced in a (dangerous) super-charged manner.
A number of experts have concluded that this is why we are now hearing about people dying and being placed on ventilators after e-cigarette inhalation exposure. Some Doctors have come forward and stated that the lung damage created is permanent.
I was very pleased when President Donald Trump recently announced that the federal government will be fast-tracking the abolition of flavorings. It may ultimately prove to not be Constitutional to limit adults, who choose to vape, however, because children are doing this at alarming levels, we have to do something about this.
Immediately following President Trump’s announcement, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy stepped-up and announced the formation of a Committee that will have only a few weeks to submit recommendations to address the vaping issue.
Before anyone starts to vape, it’s important to understand what you are exposing yourself to. The chemicals found in e-cigarettes are known as “e-juice.” The American Lung Association has determined that using electronic cigarettes, especially the flavored varieties, can lead to “popcorn lung.”
“Popcorn Lung” gets its name from exposure to a chemical called diacetyl, which was commonly used in certain food products such as popcorn, to give it that rich, buttery flavor when you microwave cook it.
The dangers of this chemical first became known when factory workers in popcorn factories experienced respiratory complications after being exposed to it by inhaling it in the workplace.
“Popcorn Lung” is a scarring of the airway, due to inflammation. It attacks the bronchioles, which are the smallest airways of the lung. As the lung scars, it also narrows, causing difficulties with breathing.
Ultimately, it leads to lung damage. There are treatments to help manage and limit the symptoms, however, there is presently no cure for “popcorn lung” and it is considered to be a life-threatening condition.
(Popcorn Lung) symptoms typically occur within 2 to 8 weeks after infection or exposure to a chemical and slowly worsen over weeks to months. Some people may develop popcorn lung after transplant surgery, but it may take months to years to develop.
The most common signs and symptoms of popcorn lung include:
Wheezing that is not related to another health condition, such as bronchitis or asthma.
Dry cough.
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing deeply, especially with physical activity.
Unexplained exhaustion.
Rapid breathing.
Persistent skin, eye, mouth, or nose irritation if caused by a chemical.
If you are experiencing breathing difficulties, please seek immediate medical attention.
The dangers of diacetyl were discovered in the early 2000’s. Most product manufacturers stopped using it. However, many (probably most) e-cigarettes still contain this harmful chemical.
A 2015 study of flavored e-cigarettes concluded that 39 out of 51 that they tested, contained diacetyl. This same study also determined that most of the flavorings also contained the toxic chemicals acetoin and 2,3 pentanedione.
This whole vaping industry is still very “new.” E-cigarettes were around for a number of years before finally being placed under the under the oversight of the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2016.
More research must be done about the potential harmful affects of e-cigarettes and vaping. It’s hard to regulate adults from consuming a legal product of their choosing, even if it is known to be harmful; i.e. cigarettes and alcohol.
However, strict regulations must be implemented to keep these vaping products out of the mouths of children.
Dr. Bob Zlotnick is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Prevention Resources. Bob and I have been talking (on-air) about the potential dangers of vaping for years.
Finally, this issue is taking its place on center stage in America. Sadly, only because people (typically children and young adults) are dying or becoming sick.
To all parents who read this week’s column, please take a good, hard look at whether your children are using or misusing vaping products.
It’s also important to note that the e-cigarette delivery system is also being used to inhale other drugs. This is a potential fatal mistake. By super heating and turning drugs instantly into vapor, the inhalation/high concentration affect can result in death.
The people who do this, love the high. The vapor bypasses of the human bodies filtering processes and the drug goes right to work in a super-charged manner. The high is higher and the dangers are incalculable.
This is a very important national discussion that has finally taken its rightful place. Please pay attention. Get engaged. You just may save the life of your child or other loved one.
Harry Hurley is the president of Harry Hurley Consulting and Communications, LLC. He hosts the daily talk radio program “Hurley in the Morning” 6-10 a.m., weekdays on Townsquare Media, WPG Talk Radio 104.1 FM & 1450 AM, where he also serves as the senior programming consultant. Send comments to HarryHurley@aol.com
