How harmful are 'e-cigs'?

[The Network]

They're obviously not completely harmless... Inhaling propylene glycol or whatever other base they might use as well as nicotine I assume can't be safe. So how dangerous are they exactly? I know that bullshit by the FDA that says they're as harmful as normal cigarettes is completely incorrect because you don't have 4,000 chemicals going into you, more like 2 probably.

Note; I don't smoke but a friend does and I'm going to get him an e-cigarette and while I was purchasing this thought came up.

Sorry if this doesn't go in this section, I assume nicotine is considered a drug so...

 

[mgrady3]

i'd say they're safer than cigarettes, but safer than toxic doesn't make something safe. They still contain nicotine which can be bad for you. Nicotine is a carcinogen though I'm not sure how harmful it is when its not being burned rather vaporized... I'm not familiar with literature on this subject. I would assume when used sparingly they aren't that bad for you, like cigarettes, one isn't going to kill you but making a habit of it can get dangerous when you think long term.

 

[The Network]

^ Well... There has been proof that even one cig can cause irreparable or near-irreparable damage, even just one drag.