Secondhand exposure from vaping marijuana: Concentrations, emissions, and exposures determined using both research grade and low cost monitors ScienceDirect Is Secondhand Vape Smoke Bad for You? Baton Rouge General Sitting somewhere when a cloud of cotton candy vapor washes over you? If you can smell the sweet scent of a vape, that's not a great sign. About one in four adults in California report being exposed to secondhand smoke or vape in the past two weeksoften on sidewalks, at home, and in recreational spaces like parks and beaches.