About 25 percent of teenagers who use electronic cigarettes have tried an alternative vaping method called "dripping," according to a report published in the journal Pediatrics. This technique produces thicker clouds of vapor, provides a stronger physical sensation in the throat from vaping, and improves flavor—it also may be even more harmful.
E-cigarettes contain a reservoir and wick that feed liquid to a heating coil that vaporizes the liquid. The user then inhales and exhales the vapor. In dripping, the user puts a few drops of liquid directly onto the heating coil. The process is sometimes uses as a way to change flavors while vaping.
Dripping releases a higher concentration of toxic chemicals—including cancer-causing substances like formaldehyde and acrolein. Although the long-term health effects of vaping are not yet fully known, several studies have shown there are a number of health risks associated with e-cigarette use. In 2016, the FDA announced e-cigs would be regulated the same way as tobacco products.
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