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The USP of vapes is that they give the user a nicotine hit without the carcinogens of tar and carbon monoxide contained in cigarettes. A naturally occurring organic compound from the tobacco plant, nicotine is a fast-acting stimulant that reaches the brain within 20 seconds. While nicotine does impact on cardiovascular health, it is low risk compared to many of the chemicals released by a lit cigarette, and it is addictive. “How addictive depends on how quickly and how much nicotine is delivered,” explains Professor Ann McNeill, Professor of Tobacco Addiction at King’s College London.

Vapes deliver nicotine faster than gums or patches

Vapes deliver nicotine to the user much faster than patches and gums. Listener Sam worries that this could prolong or increase nicotine addiction. However, a recent Action on Smoking and Health Report (ASH) revealed that almost a third of vapers decrease the strength of their nicotine e-liquid so they can start to reduce addiction. Meanwhile, the 2022 Adult Smoking Habits in the UK survey found that those using vapes were twice as likely to quit smoking than those using patches or gums.

One vape can provide the equivalent of up to 40 cigarettes

Also known as e-cigarettes, vapes fall into two main categories: re-fillable and re-usable ones costing around £40 and single-use disposable ones costing around £4. One example of the disposables is the Pineapple Ice Elf Bar that provides 600 puffs – equivalent to 20-40 cigarettes. Meanwhile, the more robust re-usable versions have a bigger battery, which can be recharged between 300 and 500 times.

Anecdotal evidence suggests vapes are as addictive as cigarettes

Two thirds of those who try just one cigarette go on to be daily smokers. Professor McNeill says that research has shown that vapes are less addictive, but she caveats that by saying the studies were carried out before disposable vapes came on the market, and she concedes that anecdotal evidence suggests that vapes are “potentially as addictive as tobacco cigarettes.” The upside of this is that cigarette smokers might be more likely to make the switch to vapes, “but on the other hand,” adds the professor, “that means that if people who've never smoked try them, the more likely they are to continue using them.”

Vapes are not risk-free

“If you're inhaling something into the lungs on a regular basis, it's likely to cause harm,” says Professor McNeill. However, while vapes are not risk-free, studies of the changes made to cells in the body (biomarkers) show significantly lower levels of harmful toxins, which could be indicative of diseases, are present in vapers than in smokers. One study even switched vapers back to smoking, which resulted in an increase in biomarkers of potential harm.

Scare stories may be stopping smokers switching to vapes

Only one in 10 smokers believe that vapes are significantly less harmful than smoking cigarettes. This may owe something to stories about vapes producing significant levels of formaldehyde and of diacetyl, a chemical that has caused a respiratory condition called ‘popcorn lung’. Cigarettes actually generate higher levels of both these chemicals, meanwhile diacetyl has been banned in England for use in vapes.

Professor McNeill notes that e-liquid flavourings such as cinnamaldehyde could be harmful in large quantities but maintains that “there hasn't been evidence to suggest that there are particular components of e-liquids which are harmful to health.”

It's illegal to sell or advertise or vapes to under 18s but it's not actually illegal for under 18s to use them, and there's a growing concern over the increasing numbers of children who are vaping.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has recommended a pre-emptive vaping ban on under 18s to combat any possible future issues with asthma. Meanwhile, the proliferation of illegal vapes in schools, some of which have levels of lead, nickel and chromium that are both prohibited and dangerous, has added to the clamour for action. Professor McNeill prefers education and enforcement on illegal sales rather than a ban. She also adds that users can find out if their vapes are from a reputable supplier by checking if they are registered with the Medicines Health Care Regulatory Products Agency (MHRA).

Disposable vapes have a huge impact on the environment

Another voice stopping short of a ban on vapes is Scott Butler from recycling campaigners Material Focus. “Anything that's banned then gets a kudos associated with it,” he says. What Scott would like is for vape recycling rates to dramatically increase – the figure of 5 million single use vapes being thrown away each week represents a fourfold increase on last year!

Like a lot of other electrical goods, Scott notes that “vapes are made of some of the most precious resources on the planet – steel, copper, lithium – if they go into the wrong place, you've then got toxicity leaching into the soil.” Scott concludes that disposable vapes “could arguably be labelled the worst environmentally damaging product that has ever been invented.”

Smoking is uniquely dangerous

There's no sense in which vapes are good for you but, despite some definite areas of concern, Professor McNeill believes that “for someone who smokes, they are the best thing since sliced bread.”

“Smoking is uniquely dangerous,” Professor McNeill adds, “there's nothing else that you use in the way the manufacturer meant them to be used that kills you. If you're a non-smoker, or if you've never smoked and you're not going to take up smoking: don't go near vapes; they're not for you. If you are about to smoke – use a vape instead.”

To find out what Sam and John make of the dizzying information that Greg has smoked out, listen to the whole episode in full here.