E-Cigarettes: Do the Benefits Outweigh the Harms?

E-cigarettes first hit western markets in 2004 and have soared in popularity throughout the latter part of the decade since their introduction. One common reason for their success is the public perception that they offer a low risk method of delivering nicotine when compared with the traditional tobacco cigarette. But their relatively short time on the market has left both consumers and health professionals alike wondering just how safe personal vaporizers are. Findings have been mixed, with statements from health organizations running the gamut from optimistic approval to calls for greater caution.

A 2015 report from Public Health England, an arm of the United Kingdom’s Department of Health, concluded that e-cigarettes were about 95% less harmful than traditional tobacco cigarettes. The agency expressed hope that vaporizers could play an important role in helping current smokers quit, suggesting that they should be adopted and employed in a similar fashion to nicotine replacement therapies. This raises an important point: namely, at present e-cigarette nicotine content is not controlled or regulated with the same rigor as nicotine patches, gums, and other non-tobacco products. The agency also went on to confirm that e-cigarettes still carry their own inherent risks, even if they are a mere fraction of the health concerns brought on by traditional tobacco products. Overall, their conclusions suggests that there is at least some appreciable benefit for smokers who make the switch to e-cigarettes.