FEATURE
UPDATING THE
EVIDENC E
Public Health England release an update
to their landmark 2015 study
BY LEO FORFAR
T
hree years ago, Public Health England released a study
that birthed one of the most oft-repeated statistics in vaping
and vape-friendly circles: that when comparing effect on the
body, e-cigarettes are at least 95% safer than combustibles.
It’s a powerful number, and one that deserves its reverence
and repetition, considering the obvious potential it presents for
e-cigarettes as a harm reduction and smoking cessation tool, and
how disconnected both public perception and policy are from the
reality of vaping’s relative safety.
The paper was authored by several scholars who have since
become prominent figures in the pro-vaping sphere, among
them were Professor Ann McNeill of King’s College London and
professor Peter Hajek from the London School of Medicine.
But scientific inquiry must never be a settled, static endeavour.
We now have an evidence update; a review of the 2015 study,
once again led by Ann McNeill, which has vindicated vaping’s
undeniable place as the best harm-reduction alternative.
Professor John Newton, director for health Improvement at Public
Health England, spoke emphatically of their renewed findings.
“Our new review reinforces the finding that vaping is a fraction of
the risk of smoking, at least 95% less harmful and of negligible
risk to bystanders.” Ever mindful of what this means for public
health in the UK, Newton also reminded us that “every minute
someone is admitted to hospital from smoking, with around
79,000 deaths a year in England alone” and added that it would
be, “tragic if thousands of smokers who could quit with the help
of an e-cigarette are being put off due to false fears about
their safety.”
Duncan Selbie, chief executive at PHE wrote the foreword to
the updated study, his statements taking on a similar tone,
emphasising their usefulness in cessation and pushing for their
greater support.
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“In a nutshell, best estimates show e-cigarettes are 95%
less harmful to your health than normal cigarettes, and when
supported by a smoking cessation service, help most smokers to
quit tobacco altogether.”
The update has been welcomed across the board as a boon to
vaping’ s mainstream clout. In a press release via their website,
the IBVTA welcomed the new publication, with cvhairman Fraser
Cropper taking aim at persistently inaccurate and negative news
stories about vapour products and how they undercut harm
reduction potential and squander smoke-free initiatives:
“The ability of vaping to transform the public health landscape is
routinely undermined by the repetition of irresponsible reporting
which ignores the relative risk of vaping and smoking. We welcome
this updated evidence review from Public Health England which
re-enforces the harm reduction potential and public health
gains which can only be realised if smokers are given accurate
information about vaping.”
True to their name, the IBVTA remain committed to ensuring this
results in appropriate legislative reform, especially concerning the
still controversial TPD.
“We especially welcome the report’s recommendation that further
research should specifically assess the impact of the EU Tobacco
Products Directive on consumers and the independent vape sector,
free from any links to the tobacco industry, who introduced vaping
to the UK and who continue to run the overwhelming majority of
vape businesses in this country, as well as their customers.’’
Coming in at over 100 pages, the study is a hefty read and a
peerless investigation into e-cigarette safety in a variety of
situations. It begins with a helpful summation dividing the findings
into eight key messages.