E-cigarettes contain a liquid form of nicotine that is heated into vapour to be inhaled Neil Hall/ReutersE-cigarettes are a “gateway” to smoking among children, a study has warned. Research has indicated that teenagers who would not otherwise have been tempted by real cigarettes were experimenting with new technology, and then moving on to tobacco. E-cigarettes were promoted as “healthy alternatives” which would help people quit — an urgent health issue in Scotland, where one in five people still smoke, the highest rate in Britain. However, evidence has suggested that the devices — which deliver a nicotine high but with no tobacco toxins — may increase the risk of strokes and lead to infertility. The study, co-authored by Dorothy Currie, of the University of St Andrews, said: “Our findings suggest the possibility that non-smokers who would be less likely to take up…

Source: The Times April 09, 2017 23:03 UTC