Not an Alternative, Vape and Cigarettes are Equally Dangerous

Illustration - Vape or electronic cigarettes. (ANTARA/Pixabay/am.)

JAKARTA - The use of cigarettes, both conventional and vape, is still often considered a habit that has a lower risk than the reality.

In fact, various studies show that both of them have serious health effects. The assumption that vaping is safer is often misleading and makes many people underestimate the dangers.

Professor of the Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Faisal Yunus, Ph.D., Sp.P(K), emphasized that both electronic cigarettes and conventional cigarettes cannot be considered a safe choice.

According to him, although the way they work is different, both of them still expose the body to harmful substances.

"Conventional cigarettes through the combustion process produce thousands of chemical substances, including strong carcinogens that increase the risk of lung cancer, COPD, and cardiovascular disease," said Faisal.

He explained that vaping does not go through the combustion process like regular cigarettes, but heats the liquid to become an aerosol. This makes it not produce the same amount of tar.

However, this condition does not mean that vaping is risk-free. He emphasized that the aerosol produced still contains various harmful substances, including nicotine.

"Vape aerosols contain nicotine in levels that are often higher, as well as substances such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and heavy metals that can cause lung inflammation, oxidative stress, and vascular dysfunction," he said.

Faisal added that the difference in the form of exposure between conventional cigarettes and vape does not eliminate its harmful effects, but only changes the way the effects work in the body.

In addition to active users, he also highlighted the risks for those around them. Although vaping does not produce smoke like regular cigarettes, the aerosol released still contains fine particles and chemicals.

"This exposure, especially in closed spaces, still has the potential to cause health effects, so the assumption that vaping only produces 'water vapor' is not scientifically accurate," he said.

He explained that exposure can contain nicotine and other harmful substances that can be inhaled by passive smokers.

According to the Chairman of the Indonesian College of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, this condition shows that the impact of vaping is not only felt by users, but also the surrounding environment.

In the end, Faisal emphasized the importance of public awareness that both conventional cigarettes and vapes have health risks, so that no one is really safe to consume.