NATIONAL REPORT—The use of e-cigarettes, vapes, and other “smokeless” tobacco products has increased recently. Unlike traditional cigarettes, the biggest advantage of vapes and these products is that you can enjoy them anywhere. Whether you are out walking or seated with friends, you don’t have to seclude yourself because of vaping. Enthusiasts can also use vapes to smoke other products, including recreational marijuana.
Superficially, vaping is considered a viable option compared to traditional cigarettes. Vapes emit vapor, which is thought to help smokers reduce or quit smoking. While there’s an aspect of truth in this, does vaping affect the air quality of indoor and outdoor environments, especially in restricted spaces like hotels and restaurants?
How Vaping Affects Indoor Air Quality
The effects of vaping on indoor air quality are minimal compared to those of traditional cigarettes. However, vaping on hotel rooms and conference spaces has the following effects:
Aerosol Composition and Particle Emissions
Even though vaping is a less harmful option to smoking, it negatively affects indoor air quality. Vaping emits aerosol and fine particles that affect indoor environments. Vaping aerosol contains a mixture of volatile compounds and fine particles, which easily infiltrates the respiratory system. Because of their small size, they can easily reach the lungs and bloodstream.
Vapor from vapes contains volatile organic compounds, such as acetone and acetaldehyde, which are known respiratory irritants. Those with existing respiratory issues suffer the most. VOCs interact with other indoor pollutants, forming more harmful secondary pollutants.
Note that the size and composition of particles released have varying health implications. For instance, fine particles irritate the airway, triggering asthmatic attacks and cardiovascular issues. The effects of these contaminants become severe if the space has limited ventilation.
Nicotine Exposure
Nicotine exposure is the other concern related to the effects of vaping on indoor air quality. While vaping is highly popularized as a less harmful option to traditional smoking, vape aerosol contains nicotine, which significantly affects the air quality of indoor environments. Here are a few reasons you should be concerned about nicotine exposure:
- Accumulation and residue: Vaping aerosol contains nicotine, which gradually accumulates in an indoor environment. Accumulation leads to a buildup of nicotine residing on furniture, walls, carpets, and other surfaces. This leads to prolonged exposure and possible re-emission.
- Effects on vulnerable populations: Unfortunately, vulnerable groups, especially children, pregnant women, and those with respiratory issues, suffer the most from nicotine exposure.
- Thirdhand exposure: Occurs when individuals interact with contaminated surfaces and transfer nicotine residue to their skin, mouth, and eyes. Children are more likely to touch such surfaces.
The effects of nicotine exposure from vapes extend beyond indoor air quality. Poor air quality affects other occupants of your hotel.
How Vaping Affects Outdoor Air Quality
While you may presume that vaping outdoors isn’t harmful, vape has notable effects on outdoor air quality. However, these effects are localized and less widespread compared to effects on indoor air quality. They include:
Dispersal of Aerosol
Vaping outdoors means you’ll exhale aerosol that disperses into the surrounding air. Unlike indoor environments, outdoor environments have a large air volume, facilitating quick dilution and aerosol dispersion. However, localized air pollution can occur in densely populated areas, such as in crowded hotel areas.
The effects of vaping outdoors depend on the population density. The chances of inhaling dispersed aerosols are higher in areas where people are nearby. However, general weather conditions, like wind speed and direction, influence dispersion of these particles. The wind carries aerosol particles further, which reduces localized impact but spreads them over a wide area.
Impact on Airborne Particles
You should also be wary of the impact of vaping on airborne particles. Vaping outdoors releases aerosol compounds and fine particles into the atmosphere. This contributes to and increases the percentage of airborne particles in the surrounding environment.
Vaping aerosol contains volatile organic compounds and fine particles. Vaping outdoors releases these compounds, allowing them to mix with other outdoor contaminants released from industrial processes and vehicle emissions. This mixture alters the composition of airborne particles, potentially degrading air quality.
Litter and Waste
The increasing popularity of vaping has brought along environmental issues caused by the littering of vaping products. Littering caused by discarded vaping devices, cartridges, packaging, and batteries, has adverse effects on the environment and contributes to environmental quality in the following ways:
- Hazardous materials: Vaping products are made from components that degrade the environment if not properly disposed of. For instance, vape batteries contain lithium, which can easily leach into soil and water if not handled correctly. Improper disposal of these products exposes local ecosystems and wildlife to various risks.
- Airborne particles: Litter from discarded vaping products also cause air pollution. As discarded vaping devices and packaging decompose, they release small particles that contaminate the air.
- Aesthetics and ecological impact: Waste from vaping products is unsightly and disrupts the natural ecosystem. Wildlife can easily die from ingesting these products.
How to Curb Effects of Vaping on Indoor & Outdoor Air Quality
Though often ignored, vaping has significant effects on indoor and outdoor environments. Developing a comprehensive approach that combines various strategies is necessary to address these effects. You can improve your indoor and outdoor air quality by:
Improving Indoor Ventilation
You should prioritize indoor ventilation to mitigate the effects of vaping on indoor air quality. Effective ventilation systems, like air exchange systems and exhaust fans, remove air pollutants and improve indoor circulation.
Similarly, you should open windows and doors to facilitate fresh air circulation in the room. This dilutes fine particles and indoor air pollutants. Purifiers with filters also excellently capture VOCs and fine particles, improving the efficiency of your ventilation systems.
Health Guidelines
Hotel owners should focus on making health guidelines on vaping and similar products known to customers. Informing your clients on how they can vape with minimal effects on indoor and outdoor air quality helps shape responsible behavior.
You should also take it upon yourself to educate vaping enthusiasts on the risks of third-hand exposure. Similarly, provide avenues for proper disposal of vape products in your hotel rooms and outdoor environments. This minimizes environmental pollution.
Adhering to Regulatory Measures
Adhering to laid down regulatory measures can also protect indoor and outdoor air quality. Regulatory measures like smoking bans can restrict vaping in enclosed areas and shared spaces. These measures minimize airborne pollution and secondhand exposure. Local governments should develop clear guidelines that outline areas where vaping is prohibited and allowed.
More Research & Awareness
There’s also a need to conduct continued research on the impact of vaping on air quality. Responsible agencies should roll out studies focusing on vape aerosol composition and its long-term health effects. These studies should form a basis for making informed decisions and developing accurate health policies on the usage of vaping products.
Hotel owners should also engage health departments in creating awareness campaigns. Your campaigns should disseminate accurate information about the risks of vaping and its effects on indoor and outdoor air quality. Rolling out targeted messaging campaigns encourages responsible vaping and vaping product waste disposal. Vaping enthusiasts will also consider the health of non-users.
Endnote
Vaping, whether indoors or outdoors, has negative effects on air quality. Though considered safer than traditional cigarettes, vape contains aerosol, fine particles, nicotine, and VOCs, negatively affecting air quality. If you prefer vaping as an option to reduce cigarette smoking, you should consider the health of others within your surroundings.
