E-cigarettes - Good or Bad?
E-cigarettes - Good or Bad?
Hands holding e-cigarette with vapour

Pregnancy & Children

Concerns with E-Cigarette Use During Pregnancy

Vaping during pregnancy could harm a developing fetus

  • The fetus is susceptible to different birth defects or malformations depending on what stage of development they are in when exposed to chemicals such as those in e-cigarettes
    • “Critical periods” for susceptibility vary by organ (see diagram above)
    • For example, the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) is susceptible throughout the entire pregnancy
      • It is particularly susceptible during weeks 3-16
      • Exposure to chemicals such as those in e-cigarettes could affect brain and spinal cord development at any time during pregnancy
  • Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which permanently damages a baby’s developing brain and many other organs
  • E-cigarettes also contain a propellant and other harmful additives that might not be safe for your baby
  • E-cigarette use has been associated with stillbirth, preterm delivery, and infant apnea when used during pregnancy
  • It may also adversely affect fetal lung development and increase risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)
  • It is important to recognize that vaping is NOT a safe alternative to cigarettes, including during pregnancy

Accidental Poisoning

Cases of accidental exposure to e-cigarette liquid causing acute nicotine poisoning in both children and adults have been increasing. Since there are typically no warning signs on the product or childproof packaging, a child may unintentionally ingest liquid nicotine. Children (or even pets) may be enticed by the smell of the flavours or they may mistake it for something else, such as cough syrup.

There were over 4700 e-cigarette-related poisoning cases in the US from 2013 – 2017.

Ingestion of such high concentrations of nicotine is highly dangerous and can be fatal. Symptoms of acute nicotine poisoning include:

  • vomiting
  • agitation
  • paleness
  • high blood pressure
  • high heart rate
  • headache

If you suspect your child has ingested e-cigarette liquid, contact emergency services and/or Poison Control immediately.

Ontario Poison Centre 1-800-268-9017

Canadian Poison Centres

References

Chang, J. T., Wang, B., Chang, C. M., & Ambrose, B. K. (2019). National estimates of poisoning events related to liquid nicotine in young children treated in US hospital emergency departments, 2013–2017. Injury Epidemiology, 6(1). doi: 10.1186/s40621-019-0188-9

E-Cigarettes and Pets Do Not Mix. (2014, September 2). Retrieved November 27, 2019, from https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/uncategorized/e-cigarettes-pets-mix/.

Electronic Cigarettes and Pregnancy: Is it Safe? (2019, September 12). Retrieved from https://americanpregnancy.org/is-it-safe/electronic-cigarettes-and-pregnancy/

Khokhar, J. (16, October 2019). Developmental Toxicology 1. Retrieved from https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/576672/viewContent/2223646/View

Maessen, G. C., Wijnhoven, A. M., Neijzen, R. L., Paulus, M. C., Heel, D. A. M. V., Bomers, B. H. A., … Marcel A. G. Van Der Heyden. (2019). Nicotine intoxication by e-cigarette liquids: a study of case reports and pathophysiology. Clinical Toxicology, 1–8. doi: 10.1080/15563650.2019.1636994

Seo, A. D., Kim, D. C., Yu, H. J., & Kang, M. J. (2016). Accidental ingestion of E-cigarette liquid nicotine in a 15-month-old child: an infant mortality case of nicotine intoxication. Korean Journal of Pediatrics, 59(12), 490–493. doi: 10.3345/kjp.2016.59.12.490

Vaping during pregnancy: Is it safe? (2019, October 12). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/vaping-during-pregnancy/faq-20462062

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