Passing it on

Zoe Jesh

inspired by Rockwood Summit H.S.

Even if a student understands the harm vaping poses to themselves, many don’t stop to think about what it could do to the people around them. One of the many appeals of e-cigarettes is the fact that they are advertised as having no emissions claiming only water vapor is a byproduct. The Popular Science Organization reported on a small study done in the summer of 2018 which found that e-cigarettes actually emit harmful particles such as ultrafine particles and potentially carcinogenic hydrocarbon atoms into the air. Another study released by the American Lung Association proved that nicotine and other chemicals used in e-cigarettes are released into the air which threaten children and infants. E-cigarette emissions settle on skin and can seep into their system. Detrimental effects such as mental development and increased risk of lung cancer. Students are drawn to vaping products because of the amount of nicotine with little chance of being caught. It also doesn’t have the harmful chemicals that regular cigarettes possess. Many students have younger siblings who are at risk of the potential harms of nicotine exposure. Vaping e-cigarettes may have less nicotine but it still possess a threat to the people around them. Being able to control the amount of nicotine, there is more of a chance of emitting nicotine. High school students who have friends who chose not to vape are also put into harm’s way. Age 25 is the age where brain development is generally complete. Before this magic age, young students are being put in a harmful situation that they did not ask for.