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Everyone is fully aware of the negative effects of smoking: lung cancer, oral cancer and even infertility. Statistics show that every year, 80,000 people die due to smoking.
In recent years, e-cigarettes have become an alternative for smokers. All over the Internet, many e-cigarette ads advertise themselves as a tool to quit smoking. Some going as far as to say you will no longer be an addict in six weeks.
Does it really work?
Let’s compare the two. Conventional cigarettes not only have nicotine, but the burning of tabbaco will produce tar and other carcinogens. On the other hand, e-cigarettes’ liquid is composed of vegetable oil, propylene glycol, flavoring and nicotine. This is then passed through a vaporizer before being inhaled into the lungs. Compared to harmful materials produced by a conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes seem to be a lot safer. According to a report by Public Health England, e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than conventional cigarettes.
However, can e-cigarettes help quit smoking?
According to a report by Cochrane UK, 4% to 9% of the test subjects have successfully quit smoking while 33% have reduced their cigarette consumption by half. However, results show that a large percentage of smokers use both conventional cigarettes and e-cigarettes in tandem. So can e-cigarettes help you quit smoking? The results are inconclusive.
Selling e-cigarettes is still prohibited in Taiwan. But due to the lack of regulations, nothing is stopping vendors from using low-quality additives or increasing the dosage of nicotine. Despite the ability for e-cigarettes to lower the dangers of smoking, it is not…without risk. For those that wish to rid themselves of their addiction, it’s best if you seek the help of professionals.
Video produced by The News Lens Video Team
Translated by Eric Tsai and Wade Cheng
Voiceover by Eric Tsai
Edited by Olivia Yang
