E-cigarettes, also more familiarly known as vapes, are battery-operated devices that heat up liquid to produce vapour consisting of small particles to the air (aerosol). They come in many shapes, sizes, device types. The main difference between this device and the conventional cigarette is that it does not contain the cancer-causing compound, tobacco, and it does not involve combustion. The liquid in e-cigarettes commonly contain a mixture of water, solvent carrier (propylene glycol or vegetable glycerine), food grade flavouring, a choice of nicotine levels, and/or drugs.
电子烟（e-cigarettes），也经常被称为“电子雾化器”（vape），是一种有电池驱动的设备，通过加热将液体变成蒸汽（气溶胶）送入人体肺部的电子装置。它们有多种形状、尺寸和种类。电子烟与传统香烟的主要区别在于，它不含致癌化物质–烟草，且不涉及燃烧过程。电子烟中的液体通常由水、溶剂载体（如丙二醇或植物甘油）、食品级香料、不同浓度的尼古丁和/或药物成分混合而成。
As proven by research time and again, smoking contributes to increment of various health risks including cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, heart disease and diabetes. In comparison to e-cigarette, the number of chemical compositions in conventional cigarette is higher, about 40 in e-cigarette as opposed to more than 7000 in traditional cigarette despite producing similar sensation. Therefore, vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking. Due to this, e-cigarette has been viewed widely as one of cigarette cessation methods.
多项研究一再证明，吸烟会增加多种健康风险，包括癌症、慢性呼吸系统疾病、心脏病和糖尿病。与传统香烟相比，电子烟所含的化学成分较少。电子烟大约含有40种化学物质，而传统香烟则超过7000种，尽管两者所提供的感觉相似。因此，电子烟比香烟的危害小得多。正因如此，电子烟被广泛认为是戒烟的一种方法。
However, are e-cigarettes risk-free? So far, research on the effect of vape on health is sparse, and there is not enough evidence to conclude that vaping is safe and has no negative health effects. Some research meanwhile suggests that nicotine itself is not safe for exposure towards pregnant people as it can affect foetal development. On children and adolescents, nicotine can affect brain development, potentiating learning disability and mental disorders. Nicotine can also lead to addiction, and it has been shown that the use of e-cigarette in teenagers can increase the likelihood of combustible cigarette uptake.
然而，电子烟真的没有风险吗？至今，关于电子烟影响健康的研究仍然较为稀缺，目前尚无足够的证据证明雾化吸烟是安全的，并且不会对健康产生负面影响。同时，一些研究表明，尼古丁本身是对孕妇有害的，因为它可能影响胎儿的发育。对于儿童和青少年而言，尼古丁可能影响他们的大脑发育，增加学习障碍和心理疾病的风险。尼古丁还可能导致成瘾，并且已经有研究表明，青少年使用电子烟可能增加他们吸食传统香烟的可能性。
Furthermore, while vaping does not involve direct combustion, heating of the elements inside it to produce aerosol can contribute to the generation of new possibly hazardous compounds that can cause inflammation, and can elevate the risk of heart, vessels and respiratory diseases, and possibly of cancer. E-cigarettes have also been associated with multiple cases of physical injuries related to burns from explosions and malfunctions.
此外，尽管电子烟不涉及直接燃烧，但加热其内部元件以产生气溶胶的过程可能会产生新的和潜在有害的化合物。这些化合物可能引发炎症、增加心血管、呼吸系统疾病的风险，甚至可能导致癌症。电子烟还与多起因爆炸和故障所引发的烧伤等身体伤害事件有关。
In conclusion, while e-cigarettes may present a less harmful alternative to conventional cigarettes, they are not without risks. The lack of long-term research means uncertainties remain regarding their safety and potential health impacts. Therefore, it is crucial to approach vaping with caution, particularly among vulnerable populations such as pregnant individuals and adolescents. As our understanding of e-cigarettes evolves, it is imperative to continue studying their effects to make informed decisions about their usage and regulation.
总之，尽管电子烟的危害可能比传统香烟的危害较小，但它并非没有风险。由于缺乏长期研究，关于其安全性和潜在健康影响仍然存在许多不确定性。因此，特别是孕妇和青少年等易受影响的人群，必须谨慎对待电子烟。随着我们对电子烟认识的不断深化，继续研究其影响，以便在使用和监管方面做出更为明智的决策，显得尤为重要。
