April 13, 2017

NZ Study Confirms PHE Figures

Data from the latest New Zealand study supports figures previously published in 2016 by Public Health England, showing vaping to be 95% safer than traditional smoking.

In a study authored by researchers Jinsong Chen, Chris Bullen and Kim Dirks from the School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Science at the University of Auckland conducted, new findings confirmed previous research. This study sought to measure the risks posed by e-cigarettes when compared to regular cigarettes. While studies of this nature have been conducted before, the entire purpose behind the scientific process and having scientific publications is to provide the field and experts therein with the opportunity to recreate published work and verify the findings. These authors did just that. The authors noted that five hazards presented average levels of exposure in traditional cigarette emissions, and only two hazards in e-cigarettes. The authors stated that, “Although some studies have identified hazardous substances in electronic cigarette (EC) liquids and emissions, there is limited information about the health risks of using ECs.”

In an effort to measure the risks, the researchers relied upon the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) health risk assessment model. The toxicants listed in their literature review are those which are most commonly associated with health problems, and only these most common toxicants were measured in the study.

In order for the researchers to evaluate the findings and measure risks, they used dose-response relationship conditions and standard-use conditions. After that all figures were compared to the international guidelines levels for each toxin.

The findings of the study reveal that e-cigarettes have less toxins and what toxins are present, are found

at a lower rate compared to regular cigarettes. The authors stated, “Our findings provide evidence that

supports the Public Health England statement but was arrived at by applying a different methodology”.

Four dangerous substances were found in e-cigarette emissions:

 Acrolein

 diethylene glycol

 propylene glycol

 cadmium

Seven dangerous substances were found in combustible cigarettes

 Acetaldehyde

 Acrolein

 Formaldehyde

 cadmium,

 CO

 4-(methylnitrosamino)- 1-(3- pyridyl)-1- butanone (NNK)

 N’-nitrosonornicotine (NNN)

Following with previous studies these researchers found that combustible cigarettes had higher emissions.

The conclusion?

“Our findings provide evidence that supports the Public Health England statement but was arrived at by applying a different methodology. Although we are aware that some smokers had been smoking for decades, the main purpose of this study is to explore whether they will be exposed to a lower risk of harm by changing to vaping. Hence, no matter how long a smoker had smoked, the probable benefits of changing his/her source of nicotine consumption from CCs to ECs for a year should be very similar. This study leads to two conclusions: that the use of ECs presents a lower risk to health than the use of CCs, and that ECs are likely to be of low health risk to the user.”

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