Secondhand vaping is harmful to kids

“Vapor” sounds benign, but it’s not. Just because what comes out of a vape pen or e-cigarette looks different than secondhand smoke from a traditional cigarette doesn’t mean it’s harmless. The surgeon general has warned that e-cig emissions contain harmful chemicals and that children are vulnerable because of their growing lungs. Plus, nicotine stunts adolescent brain development. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, however, many Americans believe e-cig aerosol is safe. Forty percent of adults in the U.S. believe that secondhand aerosol from e-cigarettes causes only some or little harm to children and 5 percent think it’s harmless.

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the country, accounting for more than 480,000 deaths each year. While vaping may be less harmful to your health, it’s still affecting the people around you, especially children. Avoid vaping in enclosed spaces with kids, especially cars or your home.

Sources: American Lung Association & Centers for Disease Control and Prevention