Atlanta: Parents vaping in front of their children could be exposing them to dangerous chemicals, scientists have warned.
A new study conducted at Emory University in the US sheds light on the hidden harms (especially to children) of second-hand vaping of e-cigarettes.
Exposure of non-vapers to vaping smoke is called second-hand vaping.
Research has shown that children living in homes where vape is used are unwittingly inhaling compounds that can harm their developing bodies.
Children between the ages of four and 12 who were exposed to second-hand vaping had significantly higher levels of metabolites associated with e-cigarette liquid.
Metabolites are compounds that are used by metabolic systems to break down foods, drugs, or chemicals in the body.
According to researchers, these metabolites can cause inflammation in the body and damage cells, leading to diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
The researchers said that the vapors emitted by electronic cigarettes may be invisible in the air, but its effects on children are not invisible.
The metabolites found in children (whose parents vaped) affected their dopamine levels, causing inflammation and oxidative stress, which in turn affected normal body functions, the researchers reported.
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