Final answer:
E-cigarettes are not a safe alternative to smoking because they contain nicotine and cancer-causing chemicals. The safety of e-cigarettes is not guaranteed due to the lack of FDA regulation. Flavored e-cigarettes may also serve as a gateway to smoking for young people.
Step-by-step explanation:
E-cigarettes are not a safe alternative to smoking because they still contain nicotine, a highly addictive drug that is also found in traditional cigarettes. In addition to nicotine, e-cigarettes may also contain cancer-causing chemicals such as formaldehyde, and some flavored e-cigarettes contain a chemical called diacetyl that can cause a potentially fatal lung disorder.
Furthermore, the safety of e-cigarettes is not guaranteed because they are not currently regulated by the FDA. Manufacturers may claim that their products are free of harmful chemicals, but without regulation, there is no way to verify these claims.
There is also concern about the appeal of flavored e-cigarettes to young people, which may serve as a gateway for them to start smoking tobacco cigarettes. As a result, some states have passed laws prohibiting minors from buying e-cigarettes.