UK health authorities officially reveal 8 truths about vaping

The UK Department of Health released an article on 8 truths about e-cigarettes on March 5, and it was reprinted on the official website of the UK government, which can be seen as a strong refutation of the most widely spread rumors and prejudices in the e-cigarette industry by an official government agency.

Vaping is not without risk, but it is far less harmful. Our advice remains that smokers would be better off switching to e-cigarettes altogether, but don't start e-cigarettes if you've never smoked before.

The publication of this blog coincides with PHE's latest independent evidence report, exploring some of the most common misconceptions around e-cigarettes and providing the facts.

1. E-Cigarettes and the U.S. Lung Disease Outbreak

Last August, vapers began arriving in emergency rooms across the U.S. suffering from severe lung damage. The cause of the outbreak, which resulted in 68 deaths in the months that followed, is unclear. You can read our recommendations here.

Based in part on the fact that the outbreak affected a very specific population, and the extent to which the incidence of new cases peaked and declined, we wrote to The Lancet explaining that the likely culprit was “bad batches” of illegal cannabis nebulizing products. However, in response to this outbreak, regulators around the world have begun to pull nicotine atomized products from the market while cigarettes are still available, thus discouraging smokers from switching.

Since then, U.S. authorities have identified vitamin E acetate added to marijuana products as the “ primary cause ” of the outbreak. Vitamin E acetate is banned from nicotine-containing e-cigarettes regulated in the UK.
 
Source: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

2. Respiratory and Heart Disease

A controversial study reporting that smokers are as much at risk for heart disease as recent smokers was recently retracted by the journal because it did not take into account the fact that all of the smokers involved were current or former smokers.

A better understanding of the effects of e-cigarettes on the heart is beginning to emerge. A randomized controlled trial that measured the vascular effects of smokers who switched to vaping was published in December and produced encouraging results. Those who switched entirely to e-cigarettes had the greatest improvement in vascular health, approaching that of a healthy “control”. Larger studies and longer follow-ups would provide greater confidence. The debate continues here and here.

3. Harms compared to smoking

Only a third of adults in England know that smoking is far less harmful than vaping. However, in 2018, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) found that the available evidence suggests that e-cigarettes are “far less harmful than regular smoking”.

Public Health England's 2015 independent evidence report concluded that “while atomization may not be 100% safe, most of the chemicals that cause smoking-related illnesses are absent, and those that are present pose a limited risk. ”

Further research is needed into the relative hazards of e-cigarettes. Last month, PHE commissioned the final and most ambitious report in the latest series of e-cigarette updates. A team of authors of PHE's previous reports, along with other international experts, are embarking on an extensive systematic review, including on safety, to allow us to make the most authoritative assessment in 2022.

4. The Harms of Nicotine

When there is evidence  showing that nicotine actually has the least risk of being harmful to health, four in ten smokers and ex-smokers wrongly believe that nicotine causes most smoking-related cancers. Although nicotine is the reason people are addicted to smoking, thousands of other chemicals contained in cigarette smoke contribute to almost all of the harm.

5. Quit Smoking

A major NIHR-funded clinical trial  published in February 2019 in the UK. The study involved nearly 900 participants and found that standard e-cigarettes were twice as effective in helping smokers quit as quitters choosing a nicotine combination in local smoking cessation services. Replacement Therapy (NRT).

Another UCL study found that e-cigarettes helped another 50-70,000 smokers in England to quit within a year.

6. Harm to bystanders

There is clear evidence that exposure to second-hand smoke is harmful, which is why the UK has laws banning smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces. These laws do not cover e-cigarettes, and organizations are free to make their own e-cigarette policies. #p#Page Break #e#

E-cigarette liquids usually consist of nicotine, propylene glycol and/or glycerin, and a flavoring agent. Unlike cigarettes, e-cigarettes do not emit bypass vapor into the atmosphere, but only exhaled aerosols.

Our 2018 report found no health risks from bystander passive smoking, and our 2022 report will review the evidence again. People with asthma and other respiratory conditions can be sensitive to a wide range of
environmental irritants, and PHE recommends that organizations take this into account and adjust their policies where
appropriate.

7. Tobacco Use and Youth Smoking

Our latest report has no evidence to support concerns that e-cigarettes are increasing youth smoking. Surveys in the UK show that young people are experimenting with e-cigarettes, but rarely use them regularly and  are almost exclusively confined to those who already smoke. Meanwhile, smoking rates among young people in the UK continue to fall.

A 2019 study addresses concerns that e-cigarettes may be “renormalizing” smoking.PHE continues to monitor e-cigarettes and smoking trends among young people. We recently commissioned researchers to look at the role of flavoring in youth smoking and adult transitions.

8. E-cigarette regulations

The UK has well-established e-cigarette regulations. Under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, nicotine-containing e-cigarette products must comply with minimum quality and safety standards, as well as packaging and labeling requirements to provide consumers with the information they need to make informed choices.

Advertising is severely restricted and manufacturers must notify the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, which bans certain ingredients, of all product details.

This fall, an international report put the U.K. at the top of the list for stopping the influence of the tobacco industry.PHE regularly advises local authorities to reject the practices of tobacco companies.

This post was translated by Google, please note any inaccuracies!