Vaping has been a source of ongoing debate for several years, as it has grown in popularity and reach. The field of vaping studies is relatively new, and there are many things we don't know about, especially when it comes to long-term vaping. However, this has resulted in a significant amount of misinformation about E-cigarettes vaping, its safety, and who the primary users of vapes are.
While there is a lot of information on the safety of vaping (some of which are more valid than others), there are several things we do know. Major health organizations in the UK, including as the NHS and Public Health England, have determined that vaping is 95 percent safer than smoking for your healthcare, and health authorities advise smokers to stop as early as possible, citing vaping as an effective nicotine replacement treatment.
In recent years, the numbers of American adults who believe e-cigarettes are as dangerous to our health as cigarettes have more than tripled, from 11.5 percent in 2012 to over 36 percent in 2017. Even more alarming is the percentage of smokers who feel that vaping is just as hazardous as smoking, if not more so. In the UK, more than half of smokers think that vaping is just as toxic as smoking. These are the people who would benefit the most from transferring to vaping as a stop smoking method, but widely misinformation stimulates smoking traditional tobacco cigarettes, despite the numerous well-documented dangers of the habit and the fact that cigarette smoke is the country's leading risk factor for death.
The breakout of lung damage among All vapers in 2019 was one of the most widely reported pieces of "proof" showing the dangers of vaping. However, health and law enforcement officials in the United States have verified that the inclusion of Vitamin E Acetate in e-liquids, which is banned in the United Kingdom and the European Union, was the primary reason. This was also discovered only in cannabis vaping goods, which are more strictly controlled in other areas of Europe and remain illegal in the United Kingdom. According to a new report from Public Health England, a substantial number of smokers are hesitant to convert to e-cigarettes because of worries of acute lung damage similar to those found in the United States.
When compared to other nicotine delivery therapies like nicotine gum, nicotine patches, gum, or vaporizers, vaping is nearly twice as effective at helping stop smoking, which is why misinformation about e-cigarettes can be so risky. Stopping individuals from quitting smoking is extremely hazardous to both the individual's health and the health of those around them, which is why fighting disinformation is so important.
There is a lot of unpleasant news about the safety of vaping out there, both in the UK and in the US, but the evidence from health organizations is clear. Despite what you may have heard, the experts' guidance remains the very same: smokers should switch to e-cigarettes to help them stop smoking, but non-smokers should avoid vaping.
According to a 2018 survey, the majority of the 10.8 million vaping in the United States were current smokers using a combination strategy or those who had recently stopped smoking. Due to decreased smoking and increased vaping in the UK, there are now nearly half as many vapers as smokers, with more than half of vapers who are ex-smokers using e-cigarettes to help them stop.
The vaping market will reach Uk is heavily regulated, with so many vape goods being regulated in the same way that regular tobacco cigarettes are. Manufacturers target only current smokers, and public health organizations like the NHS and Public Health England (formerly known as the National Institute for Health Protection or NIHP) actively encourage smokers to switch to vaping instead of smoking. In the U.s, however, there is considerably more focus in public debate on youngsters who begin to vape and the long-term impact this can have on their health and lifestyle.
Juul is a compact and attractive gadget that employs nicotine salt cartridges in a range of interesting flavors to deliver a powerful and intense nicotine dose to its users. Juul, in particular, is popular among young people and teenagers in the United States; however, the e-liquids used by Juul in the United States are banned in the United Kingdom and Europe because they are considered too strong. Juul is a brand name that comes up frequently in discussions about vaping and young people.
It's also important to remember that the legal age for purchasing vaping products varies by state, but it's at least 18 in every state. This means that young people buying vaping devices and e-liquids are more likely to buy from unregulated or black-market vendors, which is far riskier than buying from regulated vendors.
These differences in how the two countries address vaping are significant; yet, misinformation about e-cigarettes and the safety of vaping is widespread on both sides of the Atlantic. The basic fact, however, is that vaping is both safer and more effective than standard nicotine replacement therapies when it comes to stopping smoking. If you're a smoker, you should consider quitting, and vaping is a great way to get started.
As a result, don't rely on misinformation about e-cigarettes unless you've tried them yourself. Your own experience with e-cigarettes will encourage you to believe that they have a beneficial impact.
Common myths include: vaping is as harmful as smoking (false—95% less harmful according to Public Health England), e-cigarettes contain tar (false—no combustion means no tar), vaping causes popcorn lung (false—diacetyl banned in UK e-liquids since 2016), secondhand vapour is dangerous (minimal risk compared to smoke), and vaping leads to smoking in youth (evidence shows opposite).
No, vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking. Public Health England and Royal College of Physicians conclude vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking cigarettes, as it eliminates tar, carbon monoxide, and thousands of combustion chemicals while delivering nicotine without burning tobacco.
No, popcorn lung (bronchiolitis obliterans) is not caused by vaping. The concern stemmed from diacetyl, a flavouring chemical, but it's been banned in UK e-liquids since 2016 under TPD regulations. No cases of popcorn lung from vaping have been documented, while cigarettes contain 100x more diacetyl.
No, e-cigarettes contain no tar because there's no combustion. Tar is produced when tobacco burns—vaping heats liquid to create vapour without burning, eliminating tar entirely. This is one of the key reasons vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking cigarettes.
Secondhand vapour poses minimal risk compared to cigarette smoke. It contains far fewer chemicals, dissipates quickly, and studies show negligible nicotine exposure to bystanders. While not risk-free, it's significantly safer than secondhand smoke which causes serious health problems and contains thousands of harmful chemicals.
No, evidence shows vaping does not act as a gateway to smoking. Youth smoking rates have continued declining since vaping became popular. Studies indicate most young vapers are ex-smokers or would have smoked anyway—vaping may actually prevent smoking initiation by offering less harmful alternative.
No, e-cigarettes are generally less addictive than cigarettes. While both contain nicotine (addictive), cigarettes have additional chemicals that enhance addiction. Many vapers successfully reduce nicotine strength gradually, and e-cigarettes lack the rapid nicotine spike and MAOI compounds found in cigarettes that increase dependency.
Vaping does not cause the same lung damage as smoking. Smoking causes COPD, emphysema, and lung cancer through tar and combustion chemicals. While vaping isn't risk-free, studies show no evidence of serious lung disease in vapers, and lung function improves significantly when smokers switch to vaping.
No, battery incidents are extremely rare (less than 0.001% of devices) and almost always result from: using damaged batteries, wrong chargers, carrying loose batteries with metal objects, or mechanical mod misuse. Regulated devices with built-in batteries and proper usage have excellent safety records.
No, vaping produces aerosol (not water vapour) containing: propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavourings, and nicotine (if present). While significantly safer than smoke, it's not harmless water vapour—however, these ingredients are food-grade and used in many consumer products with established safety profiles.
There's no evidence that vaping causes cancer. Cigarettes cause cancer through tar and carcinogenic combustion chemicals absent in vaping. Long-term studies are ongoing, but current evidence shows vastly reduced carcinogen exposure compared to smoking—Cancer Research UK supports vaping as smoking cessation tool.
No, e-liquid quality varies significantly. Reputable UK brands use pharmaceutical-grade ingredients, rigorous testing, and TPD compliance. Cheap, unregulated products may contain contaminants, wrong nicotine levels, or harmful additives. Always buy from reputable retailers with genuine, TPD-compliant products.
Nicotine itself is identical, but delivery differs. Cigarettes deliver nicotine rapidly with combustion chemicals enhancing addiction. E-cigarettes, especially nic salts, deliver nicotine more gradually and smoothly without these additives. Nicotine causes addiction but isn't the primary cause of smoking-related diseases—combustion is.
Negligible amounts may form when devices are used at extremely high temperatures (dry burning), but normal vaping produces formaldehyde at levels hundreds of times lower than cigarette smoke. Studies showing high formaldehyde used unrealistic conditions not reflective of actual vaping practices.
Find accurate, science-based vaping information at: Public Health England, NHS, Cancer Research UK, Royal College of Physicians, and reputable retailers like WizVape who provide evidence-based guidance, debunk myths, and offer expert advice on safer alternatives to smoking with quality products.
