Cloudy future for e-cigarettes

VAPING, or the use of e-cigarettes as an alternative to smoking, is relatively new and so far public bodies have been unsure how to treat these products. 

Banned on Dublin buses but allowed in many pubs, they have been marketed in a grey area somewhere between cigarettes and water vapour.

A World Health Organisation report, published last month, says it’s certainly not harmless vapour, but acknowledges likely benefits for those switching from tobacco to e-cigarettes. 

Michael Kenneally, spokesperson for Vape Business Ireland, said he’s not concerned about the report as it suggests the kind of regulations the EU have already put into place.

“All the products have to be medically certified now and registered on a European website,” he said.

“You’ll be able to access this and see exactly what’s in the product and where it was made.

“There’s quite a bit of regulation there at the moment, which is good.”

The EU regulations came into effect in Ireland on November 20 and include banning the sale of liquid in containers of more than 10mg. However, retailers have until next May to comply.

So, with so much controversy surrounding them, what’s the truth about e-cigarettes? Well, Nicotine is not a carcinogen – it’s the other ingredients in cigarettes that are dangerous. 

Public Health England published a report last year saying vaping was 95 per cent less harmful than cigarettes. 

However, the latest WHO report, says it exposes bystanders to nicotine and toxicants, although in much lower levels than tobacco, and suggests banning e-cigarettes indoors where smoking is illegal.

Smokers may be happy to trade a high health risk for a much lower one, but to parents, mothers-to-be and non-smokers currently protected from smoke in public places, a low risk is still a risk.

Another concern of the WHO is that vaping, however better than smoking, could set the anti-tobacco movement back by re-normalising smoking in areas where it’s gained ground.

But many have said this information might lead to smokers treating vaping as just as harmful, and continuing to smoke despite the potential benefits. 

The benefit over smoking is one argument for vaping: another is to help quit smoking altogether, and Kenneally says this is supported by the NHS.

The Healthy Ireland survey 2016 found almost a third of people who successfully quit in the past year used e-cigarettes. 

Research in the journal ‘Addiction’ in 2014 said those quitting without professional help were 60 per cent more likely to say they succeeded if they used e-cigarettes.

These numbers suggest vaping may help people stop smoking – but it’s unclear how many kick their addiction altogether – and it’s important to note that in most statistics, an “ex-smoker” could be someone who still uses e-cigarettes.

But many smokers and vapers just want to know is vaping better for them than tobacco.

According to the WHO, the answer is, probably, yes. But how much better, is still unknown. 

“There is still a lot of research that needs to be done, but it is so far very positive,” said Kenneally.

REPORT: Ciara Tamay del Grosso Bates