Secondhand vape exposure: Risks and side effects Early research says secondhand smoke from vaping may not be as bad as cigarettes, but it's still not harmless. https: fox59.com news national world does vaping cause secondhand smoke doctors explain the side effects According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, 40% of U.S. adults believe that children's exposure to secondhand aerosol from e cigarettes causes only some or little harm, and 5% The health risks of secondhand smoke are widely understood. But what about secondhand vaping?