The Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA) weighed in on the New York University’s recent vaping study that made headlines worldwide this week.
A recent New York University vaping study made headlines this week. Scientists and the vaping community alike are outraged by the reckless research. The controversial study claims that vaping increases the risk of lung and bladder cancer; and may cause heart disease although it has no evidence of any of its claims.
The New York University study exposed mice to very high levels of aerosolised nicotine containing e-liquid. The researchers hypothesised the observed DNA damage and inhibition of DNA repair in the mice was a result of the nicotine metabolism to Tobacco Specific Nitrosamines (TSNAs). Countless studies have shown that nicotine is not a killer when you smoke tobacco but rather the deadly cocktail of chemicals in tobacco smoke when cigarettes are smoked. It has been concluded that the long-term use of nicotine is not detrimental to a user’s health. Because of the method that the New York University research used it’s impossible to draw any conclusions from its study about how vaping might affect people in real life. In addition to this, the study does not provide any data related to the relative risk of vaping. No comparison studies were made by exposing the mice to tobacco smoke under identical conditions.
Various studies have refuted the research findings. The University of St Andrews put the cancer risk from vaping at 1% when compared to smoking; and Italian researchers Stabile and Buonanno put the risk at more than 50 000-fold lower than smoking. The Office of National Statistics shows that 99% UK vapers are adult current or former smokers; and in 2015 Public Health England and The Royal College of Physicians concluded that vaping was at least 95% less harmful than smoking.
When looking at research into vaping compared to smoking over the last couple of years, it’s clear that there does not exist a situation where smoking is better than smoking.
Vaping is endorsed and supported by many health organisations including Cancer Research UK. These organisations are concerned at the misinformation and scaremongering undertaken by the media. It might and most likely is deterring many smokers from switching and making the healthier choice which could lead to improved health and a better quality of life. It is irresponsible and inaccurate reporting.
Research and reporting of this kind is holding back vaping’s ability to transform societies’ smoking plague according to Fraser Cropper, Chair of the IBVTA.
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