17 What We Don't Know Might Hurt You Unknowns about e-cigarettes make it difficult to judge safety BY MONIQUE CURET T rying to pinpoint exactly how dangerous vaping is, or whether it's safer than smoking conventional cigarettes, is like attempting to capture a puff of smoke: You'll likely be leſt empty-handed. Th e main reason? E-cigarettes used for vaping are still in their infancy. Th ey were introduced in the U.S. just 14 years ago, a blip in time compared with the 200 or so years that conventional cigarettes have held sway. E-cigarettes typically consist of a container that holds liquid, a battery and a heating element. Using them involves heating the liquid, which normally contains nicotine, to produce an aerosol that is inhaled into the user's lungs. Th is process is called vaping. Because of the information void, experts remain divided about whether vaping is safer than smoking or if it can help smokers quit. Some argue that vaping is not safe but is still less harmful than smoking conventional cigarettes, while others say the lack of data is cause for serious concern. VIM & VIGOR FALL 2021 VAPING