Question 1

I am trying to quit smoking and have been using an E-cigarette product as a substitute. Now I’m hearing that this is not such a safe alternative. What are the latest findings on vaping?

Mike Ouellette · Accepted Answer

Unauthorized vaping products regularly enter the market, and underage sales too frequently occur in stores and online. Some experts believe vaping is a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes. But much is unknown about the long-term health consequences of vaping. Unlike traditional cigarettes, E-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco, don’t involve combustion and contain fewer ingredients. A 2018 analysis of more than 800 peer-reviewed scientific studies suggests that “e-cigarettes are likely to be far less harmful than combustible tobacco cigarettes." While vaping exposes users to some toxicants, the vapor has "fewer numbers and lower levels of most toxicants" than cigarette smoke. However, E-cigarettes have not received FDA approval as a medical smoking cessation device.

Question 2

I am trying to quit smoking and have been using an E-cigarette product as a substitute. Now I’m hearing that this is not such a safe alternative. What are the latest findings on vaping?

Mike Ouellette · Accepted Answer

Unauthorized vaping products regularly enter the market, and underage sales too frequently occur in stores and online. Some experts believe vaping is a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes. But much is unknown about the long-term health consequences of vaping. Unlike traditional cigarettes, E-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco, don’t involve combustion and contain fewer ingredients. A 2018 analysis of more than 800 peer-reviewed scientific studies suggests that “e-cigarettes are likely to be far less harmful than combustible tobacco cigarettes." While vaping exposes users to some toxicants, the vapor has "fewer numbers and lower levels of most toxicants" than cigarette smoke. However, E-cigarettes have not received FDA approval as a medical smoking cessation device.