Congratulations to Dr. Fergeson and colleagues on the success of their article “The Electronic Cigarette: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” which was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. This article was one of the top cited articles in 2017 and has provided the medical community with valuable information on the risks and benefits of electronic cigarette use in asthmatic smokers and highlights what questions still need to be answered.

 Electronic cigarettes (EC) are battery-powered nicotine delivery systems that have increased in popularity since they entered the US market. EC has been reported to contain less carcinogens than traditional cigarettes, cause less acute lung effects in healthy individuals, and may help with smoking cessation. It has also been viewed as a potential safer alternative for asthmatic smokers, but its effects on lung functions are unclear. However, EC do carry some harmful aspects as they contain formaldehyde and formaldehyde-forming hemiacetals as well as potentially toxic particulate matter that deposits on surfaces.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, Volume 3, Issue 4, July–August 2015, Pages 519-520