Can I be Affected by Secondhand Vape Smoke? When someone vapes around others they expose them to 'second hand aerosol'. But what happens to that aerosol then? Does it disappear or is it like cigarette smoke and stays around, sticking to Health Problems Caused by Secondhand Smoke Smoking and Tobacco Use CDC According to the American Heart Association, the risks of secondhand smoke from vapes are still being discovered. Learn about the dangers of secondhand smoke from vapes.