Social perceptions related to smoking have changed a lot over the past few decades.

Until about 30 years ago, smoking was considered normative and could be smoked almost anywhere. No one was concerned about passive harm, and there were even advertisements that promoted smoking products as a lifestyle.

After a considerable amount of research was conducted on the subject and the potential harms from smoking and passive smoking were discovered, the places where smoking is permitted in public spaces were significantly limited.

The electronic cigarette was invented to serve as a less harmful alternative for smokers. Because there is no combustion process when using an electronic cigarette, most of the harm caused by burning tobacco does not exist.

Is there passive harm caused by using an electronic cigarette to those around us?

When we exhale the vapor from an e-cigarette, it remains in the air for a certain period of time and is very similar to smoke.

Because they do not evaporate immediately, people nearby can inhale them. The essential difference here is that cigarette smoke is a product of combustion. When any substance is burned, toxic and harmful byproducts are created.

On the other hand, when we use an electronic cigarette, we heat the liquid and do not burn it, and it turns into vapor and not smoke.

With reasonable and proper use of an electronic cigarette, no component ever reaches combustion and no combustion process will occur.

Another fundamental difference is that when we hold a lit cigarette, it continues to burn constantly, and therefore combustion products are emitted as long as the cigarette is lit - which contributes to the formation of passive damage.

When we hold an electronic cigarette, it does not burn or emit anything. It is only when we inhale from it that the vapor is created and delivered directly to the lungs.

Because the product of an electronic cigarette is inhaled entirely into the lungs, most of the substances contained in it are absorbed by the body before the substance makes its way out into the environment.

The vapor emitted during exhalation contains minute amounts of nicotine, but the amount is so low that it is negligible, so most experts agree that passive vaping does not pose a risk.

A study conducted by the University of California revealed that about 95% of nicotine is absorbed by our bodies and the amounts emitted are so small that a sufficient amount cannot be absorbed to cause any harm.

The British Ministry of Health published a 260-page report that dealt with the question of passive harm. The report concluded that no health risks caused by passive vaping have been identified to date.

Despite everything said here, it doesn't mean we should vape wherever we want.

Most people around us are unaware of the issue. A small number of people may be allergic to certain substances found in the vaporizing liquid , and it may also simply be unpleasant for the people around us.

Therefore, we must always be considerate of those around us and only smoke when we are not disturbing them.