On the potential harmful effects of E-Cigarettes (EC) on the developing brain: The relationship between vaping-induced oxidative stress and adolescent/young adults social maladjustment.

Introduction:
This article provides an in-depth analysis of the potential dangers of electronic cigarettes (ECs) on the developing brain and how it could contribute to social maladjustments in adolescents and young adults. The article highlights the gap in the understanding of the harmful effects of ECs and aims to spark debate and policy change.

Key Points:

* ECs may be less harmful than traditional cigarettes (TCs) because they trigger less ROS/RNS production, but for the developing brain, the amount of ROS/RNS production it triggers may be enough to cause significant and long-term harm.
* Flavorings used in e-liquids may induce inhalation toxicity and generate ROS/RNS production inducing oxidative stress (OS).
* EC vapor has been found to be highly toxic and to trigger the generation of ROS inducing OS.
* EC aerosols are a potential source of exposure to toxic metals (Cr, Ni, and Pb, Mn and Zn) which can trigger OS.
* although most of these toxic metals are believed to be lower in ECs compared to TCs, they can pose significant health risks, particularly to young people.
* OS plays a critical role in many forms of dependence and addiction, indicating that nicotine-free ECs could potentially promote addiction and dependence as well as similar adverse health and social outcomes associated with nicotine.
* The article calls for better regulation of ECs to protect young people from their potentially harmful effects, including banning all EC flavorings except the tobacco flavor, imposing legal age limits for their purchase with appropriate punishment for those who sell to underage buyers, and regulating the advertisements of ECs and standardizing the amount of nicotine in them.

Main Message:
The article emphasizes the need for better regulation of ECs to protect young people from their potentially harmful effects. The study highlights the role of OS in EC-induced harmful effects and calls for stricter regulations, including banning all EC flavorings except the tobacco flavor, imposing legal age limits for their purchase, regulating the advertisements of ECs and standardizing the amount of nicotine in them. The article also stresses the need for further research to reach broad and unequivocal conclusions on the short and long-term effects of vaping on young people's social functioning and adjustments.

Tobore TO. On the potential harmful effects of E-Cigarettes (EC) on the developing brain: The relationship between vaping-induced oxidative stress and adolescent/young adults social maladjustment. Journal of adolescence. 2019;76:202-209. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2019.09.004