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From VOA Learning English, this is the Health Report.

Cigarette smoking kills. That we know. So, manufacturers made electroniccigarettes as a safer smoking choice - safer than tobacco.

E-cigarettes contain the drug nicotine like cigarettes. But they do not usetobacco. And you do not light them. They are powered by battery.

So, if e-cigarettes are so safe, why have poisoncontrol centers around the United States seen anincrease in telephone calls about e-cigarettepoisonings?

A man with an e-cigarette at an e-cigarette lounge in New York City.

The answer is children.

Most of the calls are from people worried about childrenwho have played with the devices. In the period of onemonth this year, the United States Centers for DiseaseControl say 215 people called the Center with e-cigarette concerns. More than half of these calls were for children ages fiveand younger. The devices apparently had made them sick.

Tim McAfee is director of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health. He saysthe problem is regulation. Meaning, the U.S. federal government does notcontrol e-cigarettes even though they contain liquid nicotine. Mr. McAfee addsthat liquid nicotine is a well-known danger.

“Nicotine historically has been used as a pesticide in the United States. And that’s where we have really had for many, many decades significantpoisonings when people got exposed to nicotine that was in liquid solutions.”

Mr. McAfee explains that nicotine poisoning happens when the substance getsinto the skin, gets into the eyes or is swallowed. Even a small amount, hesays, can make a person sick.

Nicotine poisoning can cause stomach pain or a sense of unbalance.Headaches and seizures are also common signs of nicotine poisoning. Andtoo much nicotine can kill.

Tim McAfee says e-cigarettes do not create the level of risk to people thattobacco products do. He notes that almost 500,000 Americans die each yearfrom cigarettes.

“So, cigarettes are the winner in that contest. And we don’t really know what’sgoing to happen with e-cigarettes.”

An e-cigarette is an electronic substitute in the form of a rod, slightly longer than a normal cigarette.

E-cigarettes do not contain hundreds of harmful chemicals that are found inreal cigarettes. So, the U.S. Surgeon General has suggested that e-cigarettesmay be a useful tool for adults trying end their tobacco use, or quit.

But McAfee worries that teenagers may think electronic cigarettes areharmless. They could become addicted, or hooked, on the nicotine and thenstart smoking real cigarettes. In other words, he fears that for young peoplefake e-cigarettes could be a “gateway” to the real thing.

And that the Health Report. I’m Anna Matteo.