A new study published in the American Journal of College Health shows how different labels used to refer to second-hand emissions from e-cigarettes can increase or decrease risk perceptions.
Led by Dr. Matthew Rossheim of George Mason University's School of Health and Human Services, the study, "Aerosols, Vapors or Chemicals? College students' awareness of the dangers of e-cigarettes and support for smoke-free campus policies, "show the different perceptions of harm that come with different terms.
Calling the device an "e-cigarette" rather than a "vape" suggests that it is similar to regular cigarettes, so even if tobacco burning is not involved, it leads many people to erroneously compare vaping with smoking. The team analysed 791's responses. Students about aerosols, vapors or chemicals. Aggregated data showed that college students were more likely to perceive secondhand smoke as harmful to e-cigarette emissions when using the terms "chemical" or "aerosol" rather than vapor.
The "chemical" and "aerosol" conditions were associated with an increased likelihood that secondhand smoke was considered harmful/very harmful to e-cigarettes compared to the "vapor" condition (AOR = 2.0, P < 0.01), "abstract.
For this reason, schools should use the term as part of youth e-cigarette prevention programs, the researchers conclude. "Health campaigns should use accurate terminology to describe e-cigarette emissions, rather than using less risky jargon."
Use the right terminology
On the other hand, an earlier report highlighted the importance of referring to electronic products/electronic devices as "e-cigarettes" rather than "e-cigarettes". The most commonly used label, "e-cigarette," implies similarities to regular cigarettes, so even when tobacco burning is not involved, it leads many people to falsely compare atomization to smoking.