E-cigarettes vs. traditional cigarettes: The difference in ingredients revealed

In recent years, e-cigarettes have become increasingly popular as a substitute for traditional cigarettes, but what are the differences in their ingredients? Which is healthier? This article will compare and analyze e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes from the perspective of ingredients to help consumers make a more informed choice.

Main ingredients of traditional cigarettes
Traditional cigarettes produce thousands of chemical substances after burning, the main ingredients of which include:
Nicotine: addictive substance that affects brain nerves.
Tar: carcinogen, causing lung disease and cancer.
Carbon monoxide: reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Heavy metals (such as lead and arsenic): long-term accumulation damages the liver and kidneys.
Benzopyrene and nitrosamines: strong carcinogens, closely related to lung cancer.
Hazards: The combustion process produces a large amount of harmful substances, which is the main cause of diseases such as lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Main ingredients of e-cigarettes
E-cigarettes produce mist by heating e-liquid. The main ingredients include:
Nicotine (optional content): similar to traditional cigarettes, but some products provide nicotine-free versions.
Propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG): common food additives that produce smoke effects.
Flavor: provide different flavors (such as fruit, mint).
Trace amounts of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde (may be produced when heated at high temperatures): the content is much lower than that of cigarettes, but there is still controversy.

Advantages: no combustion products such as tar and carbon monoxide, reducing the harm of secondhand smoke.

Controversy: Long-term health effects are still unclear; some low-quality e-liquids may contain heavy metals or harmful additives.