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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/dec/30/e-cigarettes-may-be-no-better-than-regular-cigarettes
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| E-cigarettes may be 'no better' than regular cigarettes | E-cigarettes may be 'no better' than regular cigarettes |
| (about 22 hours later) | |
| The e-cigarette – the smoking alternative that has gone from nothing to a sprawling, unregulated multibillion dollar business in less than a decade – could be “no better” than traditional cigarettes, according to a new study. | The e-cigarette – the smoking alternative that has gone from nothing to a sprawling, unregulated multibillion dollar business in less than a decade – could be “no better” than traditional cigarettes, according to a new study. |
| Research published in the Journal of Oral Oncology claims to have demonstrated that vapour from the electronic devices may damage DNA or even kill human cells in laboratory experiments. | Research published in the Journal of Oral Oncology claims to have demonstrated that vapour from the electronic devices may damage DNA or even kill human cells in laboratory experiments. |
| The study, which its authors admit is inconclusive, comes after public health officials in Europe, the US and the UK have backed the use of e-cigarettes to help people quit smoking. | The study, which its authors admit is inconclusive, comes after public health officials in Europe, the US and the UK have backed the use of e-cigarettes to help people quit smoking. |
| Tobacco remains one of the great public health hazards. In Britain, an estimated 2.6 million people now vape, and e-cigarettes will be licensed and regulated in 2016 as aids to break the tobacco habit. | Tobacco remains one of the great public health hazards. In Britain, an estimated 2.6 million people now vape, and e-cigarettes will be licensed and regulated in 2016 as aids to break the tobacco habit. |
| Scientists in the latest study, based in the US, established that cells treated with nicotine vapour are more likely to be damaged or die than those exposed to a nicotine-free variety. | Scientists in the latest study, based in the US, established that cells treated with nicotine vapour are more likely to be damaged or die than those exposed to a nicotine-free variety. |
| They concluded: “Our study strongly suggests that electronic cigarettes are not as safe as their marketing makes them appear to the public.” | They concluded: “Our study strongly suggests that electronic cigarettes are not as safe as their marketing makes them appear to the public.” |
| One senior author, Jessica Wang-Rodriguez, a pathologist with the San Diego branch of the US Department of Veteran Affairs, said: “Based on the evidence to date I believe they are no better than smoking regular cigarettes.” | One senior author, Jessica Wang-Rodriguez, a pathologist with the San Diego branch of the US Department of Veteran Affairs, said: “Based on the evidence to date I believe they are no better than smoking regular cigarettes.” |
| Related: No, there's still no evidence e-cigarettes are as harmful as smoking | |
| Very few public health chiefs are likely to agree with her. The e-cigarette business has grown rapidly in recent years, with a recent study of internet marketing finding that 10 new brands and around 240 new flavours were being introduced each month. | Very few public health chiefs are likely to agree with her. The e-cigarette business has grown rapidly in recent years, with a recent study of internet marketing finding that 10 new brands and around 240 new flavours were being introduced each month. |
| The evidence allegedly proving or disproving the health impact of e-cigarettes so far is up for debate. One study this year compared lung damage from tobacco smoke and from e-cigarette vapour and concluded that the vapour version had “no cytotoxic impact” on human airway tissue. It was conducted by British American Tobacco scientists. | The evidence allegedly proving or disproving the health impact of e-cigarettes so far is up for debate. One study this year compared lung damage from tobacco smoke and from e-cigarette vapour and concluded that the vapour version had “no cytotoxic impact” on human airway tissue. It was conducted by British American Tobacco scientists. |
| The University of Rochester found that emissions from flavourings in e-cigarette aerosols could deliver free radicals, heavy metals and inflammation agents to the lung tissue. | The University of Rochester found that emissions from flavourings in e-cigarette aerosols could deliver free radicals, heavy metals and inflammation agents to the lung tissue. |
| Meanwhile, a risk assessment conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health concluded that since e-cigarettes delivered the same amount of nicotine as cigarettes, the same harmful effects could be expected. But almost all conceded that the risks were lower than those from lighting up a cigarette. | Meanwhile, a risk assessment conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health concluded that since e-cigarettes delivered the same amount of nicotine as cigarettes, the same harmful effects could be expected. But almost all conceded that the risks were lower than those from lighting up a cigarette. |
| Kevin Fenton, national director of health and wellbeing at Public Health England, said health chiefs would keep looking at new evidence but defended e-cigarettes as being less harmful. | Kevin Fenton, national director of health and wellbeing at Public Health England, said health chiefs would keep looking at new evidence but defended e-cigarettes as being less harmful. |
| “Our recent world-leading review found that e-cigarettes carry a fraction of the risk of smoking – the harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke, including carcinogens, are either absent in e-cigarette vapour or are at significantly lower levels than in tobacco smoke,” he said. | “Our recent world-leading review found that e-cigarettes carry a fraction of the risk of smoking – the harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke, including carcinogens, are either absent in e-cigarette vapour or are at significantly lower levels than in tobacco smoke,” he said. |
| “The best thing a smoker can do is quit completely, now and forever, and we need to provide smokers with accurate, balanced information on different quitting methods.” | “The best thing a smoker can do is quit completely, now and forever, and we need to provide smokers with accurate, balanced information on different quitting methods.” |