E-cigarettes may be less toxic than tobacco, study suggests

Smokers who switch to e-cigarettes can substantially reduce their intake of toxic chemicals and carcinogens -- but only if they completely quit smoking tobacco, a new study reports.
"Our study shows that bodily level exposure to established and important smoking-related carcinogens and toxicants is reduced by between 56 percent to 97 percent in long-term e-cigarette users who have stopped smoking completely, compared with tobacco cigarette smokers," said lead researcher Lion Shahab.
Smokers who switched to e-cigarettes cut their intake of toxins and carcinogens as much as those who quit smoking by using nicotine replacements like the patch, gum or lozenges, said Shahab. He is a senior lecturer at University College London in England. The study was funded by Cancer Research UK.
Experts not involved with the study view the findings differently. E-cigarette advocates said the study proves that the devices can help save lives by steering people away from smoking tobacco.
"This study should serve as a wake-up call to tobacco control activists who have spent the past eight years spewing hostile and outright incorrect rhetoric towards vapor products," said Gregory Conley. He is president of the American Vaping Association.
Smokers continue to smoke because "they've been misled to believe that vaping may be as hazardous as smoking," Conley continued.
However, the study also found that e-cigarette or nicotine-replacement users who also kept smoking did not experience substantially reduced levels of carcinogens and toxins, compared with regular smokers. This indicates that e-cigarettes are not reducing as much harm as advocates claim, said Dr. Norman Edelman, senior scientific advisor for the American Lung Association.
Three out of four current e-cigarette users are "dual users" who still smoke tobacco, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These people may use e-cigarettes to ward off nicotine cravings in places where smoking isn't legal or would be socially unacceptable.
    HealthDay

E-cigarettes may be less toxic than tobacco, study suggests

Smokers who switch to e-cigarettes can substantially reduce their intake of toxic chemicals and carcinogens -- but only if they completely quit smoking tobacco, a new study reports. Our study shows that bodily level exposure to established and important smoking-related carcinogens and toxicants is reduced by between 56 percent to 97 percent in long-term e-cigarette users who have stopped smoking completely, compared with tobacco cigarette smokers, said lead researcher Lion Shahab. Smokers who switched to e-cigarettes cut their intake of toxins and carcinogens as much as those who quit smoking by using nicotine replacements like the patch, gum or lozenges, said Shahab. He is a senior lecturer at University College London in England. The study was funded by Cancer Research UK. Experts not involved with the study view the findings differently. E-cigarette advocates said the study proves that the devices can help save lives by steering people away from smoking tobacco. This study should serve as a wake-up call to tobacco control activists who have spent the past eight years spewing hostile and outright incorrect rhetoric towards vapor products, said Gregory Conley. He is president of the American Vaping Association. Smokers continue to smoke because theyve been misled to believe that vaping may be as hazardous as smoking, Conley continued. However, the study also found that e-cigarette or nicotine-replacement users who also kept smoking did not experience substantially reduced levels of carcinogens and toxins, compared with regular smokers. This indicates that e-cigarettes are not reducing as much harm as advocates claim, said Dr. Norman Edelman, senior scientific advisor for the American Lung Association. Three out of four current e-cigarette users are dual users who still smoke tobacco, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These people may use e-cigarettes to ward off nicotine cravings in places where smoking isnt legal or would be socially unacceptable. HealthDay