(ABC) -- A new study finds there are misconceptions about electronic cigarettes and what they can and can’t do for smokers.
It’s called an electronic cigarette, e-cigarette, personal vaporizer or PV. It even looks like a cigarette, only it holds a liquid solution that delivers a nicotine vapor to smokers and not the other harmful ingredients found in tobacco cigarettes.
Now, a study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that many young Americans believe these cigarette substitutes may be more beneficial than they are.
Researchers analyzed data collected on the awareness and views of e-cigarettes held by more than 2,600 Midwestern adults aged 20 to 28.
The results showed nearly 70 percent of the participants were aware of electronic cigarettes.
Of that group, 44.5 percent thought e-cigarettes could help them quit smoking, 52.9 percent believed they’re less harmful than cigarettes and 26.4 percent said they were less addictive.
But researchers caution not enough is known about the risks of e-cigarettes and they say there’s insufficient evidence to support any benefits.
