What's Really in the Cloud? Understanding the Risks of Secondhand Vape Aerosol 

While many people recognize the dangers of secondhand cigarette smoke, the Tobacco Action Coalition of the Finger Lakes (TACFL) notes that fewer understand that e-cigarette (vape) aerosol can also expose bystanders to addictive nicotine and other harmful substances.  

According to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), e-cigarette aerosols are not harmless and may contain heavy metals and volatile organic compounds that may contribute to serious long-term health effects, including cancer. The aerosol also contains ultrafine particles that can affect healthy lung function.  

The American Lung Association echoes the warnings from NYSDOH, emphasizing that e-cigarettes produce many dangerous chemicals, including acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde. These toxic aldehydes can cause lung disease and cardiovascular disease. 

“Despite what the name suggests, vaping doesn’t produce ‘water vapor,’” says Tracy Brown-Simmons, community engagement coordinator for TACFL. “If you are near someone who is vaping, whether at a concert, in a park, on a sidewalk, you may be breathing in harmful chemicals and cancer-causing chemicals into your lungs without realizing it.”     

Vape aerosol is produced when e-liquid is heated by a battery-powered device, such as an e-cigarette. This chemical aerosol is then inhaled into the vape user’s lungs. Secondhand vape aerosol is the “cloud” of tiny particles or droplets produced from the e-cigarette user’s mouth when they exhale. The expelled aerosol can expose bystanders to potentially dangerous chemicals.  

“Secondhand vaping is not harmless,” says Monaliben Patel, MD (pictured left), a medical oncologist who specializes in lung cancer and treats patients at Wilmot Cancer Institute’s Sands Cancer Center in Canandaigua, New York. “Bystanders who breathe in the aerosol may be exposed to nicotine, ultrafine particles, volatile chemicals, and trace metals. Although exposure is generally lower than with secondhand cigarette smoke, it is associated with measurable nicotine absorption in children and respiratory symptoms such as persistent cough and shortness of breath in young adults. That is why it is important to avoid vaping indoors, especially around children, pregnant individuals and people with asthma or chronic lung disease.” Downloadable Image.

Children and those with asthma may be especially vulnerable to secondhand vape aerosol. With regard to pregnancy, the CDC has stated that nicotine exposure can damage a developing baby’s brain and lungs. 

“The impact of secondhand vape aerosol on our communities deserves attention,” Brown-Simmons adds. “We need businesses, community health leaders, municipal governments, and concerned community members to work together to expand education efforts and support policies that help keep outdoor spaces free from secondhand aerosol exposure.”   

TACFL remains committed to improving the health of Finger Lakes communities, with efforts focused on Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates counties. TACFL, funded through a grant from New York State’s Bureau of Tobacco Control and a program of the American Lung Association, is one of 21 community partnerships across New York State. Learn more about TACFL’s initiatives at SmokeFreeFingerLakes.com.