Which is more harmful, vaping or cigarettes?
Based on currently available data and research, vaping appears to be less harmful than cigarettes, because e-cigarettes do not contain tar, and tar is a globally recognized carcinogen.
According to a recent report released by PHE (Public Health England), which is sponsored by the UK health authorities, there is now a conclusion that the harm from modern e-cigarettes may be up to 95% lower than that of traditional cigarettes. In addition, e-cigarettes have strong potential to help people quit smoking, and it may even be possible to incorporate medicinal ingredients to produce certain therapeutic effects. “E-cigarettes have the potential to transform public health, particularly by reducing harm to smokers themselves and from secondhand smoke,” said Professor Ann McNeill of King’s College London.
According to these latest findings, nearly half of people in the UK (44.8%) still do not know that e-cigarettes are far less harmful than traditional tobacco. In fact, many people still believe that e-cigarettes are just as harmful as conventional cigarettes, and the proportion of people holding this mistaken view has continued to rise, from 8.1% in 2013 to 22.1% in 2015. PHE stated that e-cigarettes are not a completely harmless option, but they can significantly reduce harm while helping smokers eventually give up smoking altogether. “Smoking cessation services everywhere should actively promote the benefits of e-cigarettes, ultimately helping smokers quit completely,” said Professor Kevin Fenton, Director of Health and Wellbeing at PHE.
The UK was set to begin legislation in October of that year to prohibit citizens under the age of 18 from purchasing e-cigarettes, because the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes on adolescents were still uncertain. Although e-cigarettes still require further public understanding and adoption, it is believed that with continuous technological progress, the current difficulties and issues facing e-cigarettes will gradually be resolved.
