Vaping Less Risky For Smokers, Largest Study Review Of Its Kind Finds

A study has found that using an electronic cigarette instead of smoking leads to a “substantial reduction in exposure” to toxic substances linked to smoking-related diseases. Vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking, according to recent research conducted by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London.

The research shows that vaping, rather than smoking, reduces exposure to toxicants that promote cancer, lung disease, and cardiovascular disease.

The research findings indicated that, while using an e-cigarette is not risk-free, especially for those who have never smoked before, it poses a small fraction of the health risks of smoking in the short to medium term. The report indicated that vapers had lower levels of toxicants that contribute to the primary diseases caused by cigarette use.

Professor Ann McNeill, a professor of tobacco addiction at King’s IoPPN and the report’s lead author, said, “Smoking is uniquely deadly and will kill one in two regular sustained smokers, yet around two-thirds of adult smokers, who would benefit from switching to vaping, don’t know that vaping is less harmful. However, the evidence we reviewed indicates that vaping is unlikely to be risk-free. We discourage anyone who has never smoked from taking up vaping or smoking.” she concluded.

England’s deputy chief medical officer Jeanelle DeGruchy said that every minute someone gets admitted to a hospital in England due to smoking, someone dies a smoking-related death every eight minutes.

“Vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, so the message is clear, if the choice is between smoking, vaping, and fresh air, choose fresh air. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health,” Jeanelle said.

Statistics found that public perceptions are lagging, whereby in 2021, only 34% of adults who smoked accurately perceived that vaping was less harmful than smoking. “This important study is the latest in a series that carefully pulls together the science on vaping to help reduce the damage from smoking,” Jeanelle added.

In the Pan American region, which includes North, Central, and South America, smoking prevalence and trends have varied between countries and regions. In the Region of the Americas, tobacco use accounts for 15% of the deaths from cardiovascular disease, 24% of those from cancer, and 45% of those from chronic respiratory diseases. Going by the research findings, vaping can benefit millions of smokers in this region and significantly reduce smoking rates and related deaths.

Overall, adopting a balanced approach that promotes harm reduction for smokers while safeguarding against potential risks for non-smokers and youth is essential for realizing the potential benefits of electronic cigarettes in the Pan American region.