How Safe Are Fake Cigarettes Around Kids and Pregnant Women?
Fake cigarettes are now regarded as a healthier alternative to actually smoking the burning tobacco. It is also seen as a tool which can aid people to gradually wean themselves off their dependence on nicotine. They are also seen to be very safe around kids and pregnant women. How true are these really?
First of all, let us explain what a fake cigarette is. These are actually the electronic cigarettes which you may have heard about. These are lithium battery powered which, much like the cell phone, can be charged and used several times over. These are designed to look like the real cigarette stick, but it contains two or three parts. Generally the parts include the atomizer, the nicotine cartridge and the battery. The atomizer has propylene glycol and water mixed together and the battery lights up the LED light tip on the other end. When the inhalation part of the nicotine cartridge is dragged on, the light at the end flares like the real thing, then the nicotine goes through the inhalation part and into the body. The atomizer acts on the drag and produces water vapor or steam which looks so much like real smoke, this is because of the propylene glycol. There are many flavors and levels in strength of nicotine cartridges now available. There is no tar, there are only 40 compounds inhaled, unlike the 4000+ from the real cigarettes and there is no smoke. This means that there is no second-hand smoke.
The danger for the pregnant women who take in the second hand smoke is eliminated. With fake cigarettes, there is no actual smoke, so there is nothing to link it with nicotine-induced diseases for either the mother or the child. For the kids, there is no danger with the second hand smoke and from getting burned as there is no actual burning going on.
However, it is important to know that although these are physically safe when smoked by other people, the fake cigarettes can still be harmful for both the pregnant woman and the kids. One of the dangers is when the woman actually smokes the electronic cigarette. Regardless of the fact that it contains only 40 of the compounds, they are still not good for both the mother and the child. Second danger is the parts of the gadget. These are small parts and a child can unwittingly swallow the parts and choke on them. Also, the child could put it on, thinking it is a toy, and start smoking.
So really, the fake cigarettes are relatively safe as an alternative source of nicotine pleasure and second hand smoke. But it is also dangerous when it is not used properly. When using this gadget, especially around kids, it is very important to make sure they do not get to hold them, even if you think it is cute that your kid can actually play fetch as many are often seen to do. As a pregnant woman, nicotine, no matter the form, is harmful to the baby. So just stop smoking.