How Harmful Are E-Cigarettes? See What New Zealand's Official Experts Say

Recently, the National Health Commission held a press conference, emphasizing that the dangers of e-cigarettes should be taken seriously. Currently, the National Health Commission is conducting research on e-cigarette regulation in collaboration with relevant departments, planning to regulate e-cigarettes through legislation. Many media outlets claim that the dangers of e-cigarettes are seven times greater than those of traditional cigarettes! A simple search for the keyword "e-cigarettes" on headlines reveals that all the information is quite cautious.
 
As of June 2019, 32 countries worldwide have completely banned e-cigarettes, but some well-known developed economies, including the United States, Japan, South Korea, and parts of Europe, have opened up to e-cigarettes. This result indicates a significant divergence in the research on e-cigarettes. So where does this divergence come from?

Recently, I discovered that the New Zealand Ministry of Health and the Health Promotion Agency have created a video website about e-cigarettes, specifically to answer the public's questions about them. The video Q&A is quite straightforward, and I share it with everyone, as listening to multiple perspectives leads to clarity, while only hearing one side leads to confusion. I hope everyone gains a more comprehensive understanding of e-cigarettes.

What is the principle of e-cigarettes?

E-cigarettes consist of a battery, a heating atomization device, and e-liquid, which mainly contains propylene glycol solution, vegetable glycerin, and some nicotine.
 
Is nicotine harmful?

Nicotine is the substance that makes people addicted to smoking, but it does not cause cancer or heart disease. Traditional cigarettes produce carbonized substances, such as carbon monoxide, which harm the human body. Therefore, vapor e-cigarettes usually help people quit smoking, and their harm is much less than traditional smoking.
 
Are vapor e-cigarettes 100% safe?

A: We prefer to view them as a harm reduction tool rather than claiming that vapor e-cigarettes are 100% harmless. They may carry some long-term risks. However, from the public research findings available, the harm of vapor e-cigarettes is less than that of traditional cigarettes. If you do not smoke and start using vapor e-cigarettes, it may still cause some harm to your body.
 
People often fear the unknown, and e-cigarettes are a new phenomenon, being "man-made". Without long-term observation of ten or even decades of continuous use, it is difficult to definitively conclude their harm to the human body. I came across an interesting experiment in a book on research decision models: Option A: a 0.1% probability of losing $5000; Option B: a guaranteed loss of $5. Among 72 participants, 80% chose Option B. This experiment bears a striking resemblance to the current situation with e-cigarettes. If it were you, which option would you choose?!