Experts urge parents not to vape near kids - as study finds second-hand vapor causes build-up of chemicals linked to CANCER

Researchers are warning about the dangers of second-hand vaping, especially among children. 

A new study found that children under 12 who were regularly around vaping had higher levels of metabolites that are made in the body in response to chemicals in the e-cigarette vapor.

These chemicals can cause inflammation in the body and lead to cellular damage that is linked to diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

'Many people who smoke have switched to using e-cigarettes, thinking it's safer for them and others nearby,' said Jeannie Rodriguez, associate professor at Emory University in Georgia and lead author of the study.

Researchers from Emory University in Georgia found that children aged 4 to 12 who were regularly around vaping had higher levels of metabolites linked to chemicals in vapes, compared to children who have not grown up around vapes 

A study published this month linked vaping to health effects like asthma, pneumonia, and bronchitis. However, smoking has long been associated with severe health consequences like lung cancer and heart disease

'However, there are chemicals in the liquids used in a vape that are hazardous for you and those that you care about who are exposed to the vapors you exhale.'

The researchers compared a group of children aged four to 12 years whose parents vaped daily with a group of children the same age parents who do not use vapes or cigarettes.

The children had their blood taken to evaluate the risks of secondhand smoking. The team also used tested the kids' saliva and breath to determine what chemicals they had been exposed to.

American Heart Association: vaping is as bad as cigarettes

E-cigarettes that pack a heavy punch of nicotine may be as dangerous to the heart and lungs as traditional tar-filled cigarettes, the leading medical organization for heart health said. 

The children whose parents vaped everyday had increased levels of metabolites, or molecules, which are created in the body after exposure to chemicals found in e-cigarettes.

These can throw off dopamine levels in the body and cause cell damage due to oxidative stress, the researchers said.

After the study was completed, a group of parents who had taken part were informed of the findings, with many surprised at the results.

Some 11 out of 19 parent users believed vaping was a minor health hazard or not a health hazard at all, and 12 of 22 parent users did not know whether or not exposure to electronic cigarette vapors was harmful to children.

One parent said: 'The appeal for vaping is that, at least in my mind and I say this all the time to people that ask me, I say, vaping for me is probably about 95 percent better than smoking cigarettes.'

'For me, it seems it portrays itself as the healthier version,' said another.

While some doctors have claimed that vaping nicotine is 'around 90 or 95 percent' less harmful than smoking it via cigarettes, how harmful the remaining effects are is still not fully understood.

Originally marketed as a way to quit smoking traditional cigarettes, studies are starting to suggest vapes are no less dangerous, citing a mixture of more than 7,000 chemicals in the toxic smoke.

People can also puff on the devices hundreds of times per day, raising their risk of conditions including cancers and high levels of inflammation in the lungs — which can damage the organs.

About one in ten high schoolers now vape, with many drawn to the habit by the fruity flavors available in brands and teen-centric advertising. Half of these become addicted, figures suggest.

And more are predicted to pick up the habit, with analysts suggesting the market will nearly double from $22.45billion in 2022 to as much as $39.1billion by 2032.