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Study Calls E-Cigarettes A New Major Health Concern

KYW's Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Are e-cigarettes a new major health concern? They have been gaining in popularity in recent years, but whether they may be adding to the ranks of nicotine users and not just merely converting those who would otherwise smoke cigarettes is an open question.

An article in the Journal Pediatrics supports concerns that children who would not otherwise have smoked are using e-cigarettes.

In a study of over 150 people they found the high rate of e-cigarette use in adolescents suggests that e-cigarettes are not substituting for cigarettes, but that adolescents who would have not otherwise used tobacco products are picking up the habit.

Researchers concluded that the prevalence of current smoking among adolescents has decreased in both 11th and 12th grade students since 1995.

However, the combined use of both cigarettes and e-cigarettes has reached similar or greater levels than the use of cigarettes at the start of the study.

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