Smoking robot and human face/off
in shock e-cigarette study
Groundbreaking research funded
by British American Tobacco has
suggested inhaling nicotine vapour
could be as safe as breathing air.
The tobacco giant funded the creation of
a special robot to test the health risks of
vaping. Leading scientists now claim that
vapour released by electronic cigarettes
has zero toxic effect on the cells found in
human lungs. To perform its experiments
British American Tobacco teamed up with
the MatTek Corporation, which makes
models of human cells used in high level
in-vitro laboratory experiments.
In the ground-breaking experiment,
scientists used a smoking robot to
expose lung cell replicas to three different
air/vapour types; clouds produced from
two different brands of e-cigarettes,
tobacco smoke, and fresh air.
Cells died when exposed for six hours
to traditional cigarette smoke. However
after giving the cells a continuous vapour
dosage, researchers as quoted in the
Mirror claimed the damage to the airway
tissue was “similar to that of air”.
British American Tobacco spokesperson
Dr Marina Murphy said: “By employing
a combination of a smoking robot and a
lab-based test using respiratory tissue, it
was possible to demonstrate the ability
to induce and measure aerosol irritancy
and to show that the different e-cigarette
18 AUGUST 2015 VAPOUROUND MAGAZINE
aerosols used in this study have no
cytotoxic effect on human airway tissue.”
Plans are afoot to utilise the same tests
on a larger range of e-cigarettes to
strengthen results.
The debate about e-cigarette safety
isn’t likely to dissipate, having been
ongoing for the past few years ever since
the exponential rise of e-cigarettes.
Numerous studies have highlighted
health risks, although most experts agree
vaping is the safer alternative to smoking
tobacco cigarettes.
Dr Michael Siegel, Professor at Boston
University’s School of Public Health is
one these experts who keeps abreast
of all topics concerning e-cigarettes
and writes extensively on the industry.
He said: “Despite the limitations of the
research, it adds additional evidence to
support the contention that vaping is a lot
safer than smoking. Such a phenomenon
would result in the greatest public health
miracle of our lifetimes.”
He also encourages public health bodies
and anti-tobacco groups to persuade
smokers to make the switch to vaping,
which could ultimately transform the
nicotine market and achieve a huge
public health victory. His positive
words for e-cigarettes were tempered
with a warning as he warned about
the dangerous toxins produced by
“Despite the
limitations of the
research, it adds
additional evidence to
support the contention
that vaping is a lot
safer than smoking.”
overheating liquid nicotine.
Vaping enthusiasts are proud and
protective of their vapes, seeing it as
a life-line and healthier alternative to
smoking. Many vapers reject research
which claims e-cigarettes emanate
dangerous chemicals.
Interest in vaping is coming from all
quarters of the industry. British American
Tobacco announced the release of
their Voke device earlier this year. This
operates more like an asthma inhaler and
is licensed as a medicine which produces
no heat.
What do you think? Vapouround
encourages more scientific study around
the safety of e-cigarettes and e-liquids.
We also champion smokers making
the switch to vaping for an alternative
and what is well documented to be, a
healthier lifestyle.