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Concept
Health effects of electronic cigarettes
Summary
The use of electronic cigarettes (vaping) carries health risks. The risk depends on the fluid and varies according to design and user behavior. In the United Kingdom, vaping is considered by some to be around 95% less harmful than tobacco after a controversial landmark review by Public Health England.
E-cigarettes reduce lung function, reduce cardiac muscle function, and increase inflammation. Traditional cigarettes have a higher damage record than vaping. The deadly 2019–20 vaping lung illness outbreak in North America was strongly linked to vitamin E acetate in THC-containing vaping liquid. Nicotine vaping produces more carcinogens and toxic substances than a medically approved nicotine inhaler.
There are also risks from misuse or accidents. Such accidents can be through nicotine poisoning (especially among small children), contact with liquid nicotine, and fires caused by vaporizer malfunction.
The long-term consequences from e-cigarette use on death and disease are unclear. There is little data about safety, and considerable variation among e-cigarettes and the liquid ingredients.
Electronic cigarettes have been proposed as a healthier alternative for people who otherwise cannot or choose not to quit smoking, even if complete abstinence is the healthiest option. In June 2014, the Royal College of Physicians stated that, "On the basis of available evidence, the RCP believes that e-cigarettes could lead to significant falls in the prevalence of smoking in the UK, prevent many deaths and episodes of serious illness, and help to reduce the social inequalities in health that tobacco smoking currently exacerbates." Vapor does not contain tobacco and does not involve combustion, therefore users may avoid several harmful constituents usually found in tobacco smoke, such as ash, tar, and carbon monoxide. A 2014 review found that e-cigarette aerosol contains far fewer carcinogens than tobacco smoke, and concluded that e-cigarettes "impart a lower potential disease burden" than traditional cigarettes.
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