Common myths about vaping

Lots of people have opinions about vaping, but that doesn’t mean they have the facts. We often see misinformation spread about vapes and e-liquids and these dangerous myths might even stop smokers from switching to vapes. That means they might miss out on the health benefits of quitting cigarettes, all because they don’t have the right information.

We’re here to clean up some common vaping misconceptions, giving you a better idea of how well-regulated vaping is and how it can help people quit smoking.  

Myth 1: vaping isn’t better than smoking

According to leading bodies like the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), the Royal College of Physicians, Cancer Research UK and the US National Academy of Sciences, vaping is far less harmful than smoking. Vaping is also widely seen as an effective way to quit smoking cigarettes.

According to the NHS, people who use vapes are exposed to far fewer toxins than those who smoke cigarettes. Also, vapes don’t produce tar or carbon monoxide, which are two of the most harmful substances in tobacco smoke. We recently reported that 39% of people falsely think that vaping is as harmful as smoking when the truth is that vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking, which we’ve known since 2015 and which was recently re-affirmed in the Nicotine vaping in England: 2022 evidence update.

The recent Cochrane meta-analysis on smoking cessation found that e-cigarettes are as effective at helping smokers to quit as pharmacological options varenicline, commonly referred to as Champix, and cytisine. A clinical trial from the New England Journal of Medicine published in February 2019 also identified vaping as being twice as effective for long-term smoking cessation as common nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) options like nicotine patches and gum, which was reiterated in a subsequent Cochrane review. The trial also identified that using vapes to quit resulted in a faster reduction of coughs and phlegm. Additionally, the NHS reports that two thirds of people who use a vape (along with expert support) successfully quit smoking.

Myth 2: Disposable vapes contain as much nicotine as 50 cigarettes

In the UK, all disposable vapes are subject to regulation which means they contain no more than 2ml of e-liquid with a maximum 20 mg/ml nicotine strength. This is works out at 40mg of nicotine, which delivers around 20mg of nicotine to the user. The average package of twenty cigarettes contains between 200 and 300mg of nicotine and about 20 to 30mg of that nicotine will be absorbed during smoking.

So, a standard disposable vape in the UK delivers as much nicotine as approximately 20 cigarettes.

E-liquids are available in a variety of different nicotine strengths, so you can also choose vapes with a lower percentage of nicotine if this would better reflect your previous nicotine intake from smoking. For example, a vape with a 3 mg/ml e-liquid has a very low nicotine level and while it will offer you the same amount of puffs as a higher percentage of nicotine, it will be the equivalent of smoking far fewer cigarettes. Find out more in our guide to cigarette and nicotine equivalencies.

Myth 3: Vaping damages your lungs

Vaping is a relatively new method of ingesting nicotine, but there has been a lot of attention paid to the potential to damage lungs or harm users. It’s hardly surprisingly that vaping has come under such close inspection, considering the harmful effects of smoking cigarettes.

There was an instance of e-cigarette or vaping associated lung injury, also known as EVALI, which peaked in the USA in 2019. While the exact cause of these instances is difficult to pinpoint, the majority of cases involved e-liquids that contained THC and Vitamin E, both of which are not allowed in UK vapes. It is estimated that 3.6 million people use e-cigarettes in the UK and as of 8 January 2020, the UK government had received 244 suspected adverse reaction reports to the MHRA’s Yellow Card Scheme. The scheme is an open invitation to anyone who is suffering from side effects of any e-cigarettes as well as medicines, vaccines and more. This government run initiative is a method for collecting the kind of valuable information that can help manufacturers and lawmakers alike.

Myth 4: Vaping is swapping one addiction for another

While it is true that e-cigarettes can contain the addictive substance nicotine, switching from smoking to vaping is not swapping one addiction for another, but rather managing your nicotine addiction in a less harmful way.

When you are using traditional cigarettes you are inhaling smoke which contains nicotine along with many other harmful toxins and carcinogens. An e-cigarette on the other hand vaporises an e-liquid, which does not contain these same harmful chemicals and can be considered a 'clean' source of nicotine.

Unlike many other alternative nicotine sources, e-liquids are available in a wide variety of different nicotine strengths. As advised by the NHS, once you have been vaping for some time and are confident that you will not return to smoking, you can start to decrease your nicotine intake by using an e-liquid with a lower nicotine strength.

Myth 5: Second-hand vapour from vaping is harmful

While the second-hand smoke from cigarettes has been found harmful, and we have rules and regulations to limit it, the same can’t be said for the vapour that’s released second-hand from vapes. E-liquids are generally made up of nicotine, flavourings, propylene glycol (PG) and  vegetable glycerine (VG) and, unlike smoke, there’s no side-stream vapour emitted from a vape, only the aerosol exhaled by the user.

Public Health England (PHE) carried out an evidence review in 2018 that found no identified health risks of passive vaping to the health of bystander, to date. Organisations are allowed to make their own policies when it comes to allowing people to use vapes on their premises and, aside from keeping those rules in mind, individuals can make their own choices about where to vape.

It's worth thinking about the fact that people with respiratory conditions or asthma can be more sensitive to all kinds of environmental irritants, from changes in temperature to irritants like pollen, and it may be worth taking this into account when thinking about second-hand vapour. You might also want to avoid vaping around babies, children and young people under the age of 18 and please remember, vapes can only be sold to adults.

Myth 6: Vaping causes popcorn lung

Popcorn lung (bronchiolitis obliterans) is an uncommon type of lung disease that’s caused by a build-up of scar tissue in the lungs, which blocks the flow of air. It’s not caused by vaping and Cancer Research UK states that e-cigarettes don’t cause the condition that’s known as popcorn lung.

While more research is needed, its claimed that there is a possible link between the disease and a chemical called diacetyl. This chemical has been used to flavour popcorn and a group of workers in a popcorn factory were affected by the condition, leading to the name. However, bronchiolitis obliterans can happen after infections, when lungs are damaged, or after breathing chemicals that irritate the lungs.

The rumours around a connection between popcorn lung and vaping started because some e-liquids have been known to contain diacetyl. However, The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2012 banned the use of diacetyl in vapes in 2016 and no e-liquids in the UK should contain the chemical. If you’re still concerned, you’ll be relieved to know that there are no confirmed cases of vapes linked to popcorn lung.

Myth 7: Vaping is addictive

Vaping itself isn’t addictive. What is addictive is the substance known as nicotine. You can vape using e-liquids that contain no nicotine at all or you can choose e-liquids that have a varying amount of nicotine up to 20 mg/ml (or 2% of the e-liquid total), which is the maximum nicotine strength for e-liquids in the UK. This means you can be vaping with no nicotine at all and therefore not inhaling any addictive substances,

It can be hard to stop using nicotine once you’ve started, which is why many people choose to quit smoking cigarettes by replacing them with vapes. A 2022 report from Public Health England (PHE) and now the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) in the Department of Health and Social Care says that alternative nicotine delivery devices like vapes can play an important role in reducing the huge health burden caused by cigarette smoking.

It's also worth remembering that while nicotine is addictive, it is not harmful to the body in and of itself. Find out more in our guide to how nicotine affects the body.

Myth 8: People use a vape more frequently than they smoke

It is quite normal to find that you use your vape more often than you smoke, this is likely because an e-cigarette delivers nicotine in a slightly different way to smoking. When smoking you would usually smoke an entire cigarette and then not have another one for a while, whereas with an e-cigarette users will usually prefer to vape little and often.

As long as your nicotine cravings are being managed, it is okay to reach for your e-cigarette whenever you feel like you need it. By effectively managing your cravings with a vape you are not only using a safer alternative to smoking, but you are also helping ensure you remain smokefree.

Myth 9: Disposable vapes explode all the time

While it’s very unlikely that your disposable vape will explode, especially when it’s been made by a reliable manufacturer, there is a chance that it may explode or catch fire. This is due to the fact that like many phones, laptops, electrics toothbrushes and other modern electrics, they contain lithium batteries. These batteries can sometimes catch fire or explode when they are damaged by something like a drop or exposure to heat.

Batteries can also sometimes malfunction due to defects in their manufacturing, which is why it’s very important to always buy from a reputable seller. You should also always follow the instructions that come with your vape and avoid treating it too roughly, exposing it to temperature extremes or exposing it to water.

If you have a rechargeable disposable vape, only recharge it the number of times that the manufacturer recommends.

Myth 10: Vapes aren’t regulated in the UK

Yes, vapes are regulated in the UK. These regulations are intended to ensure that manufacturers are held to minimum standards for the safety and quality of all e-cigarettes and e-liquids. In fact, the UK has some of the strictest regulations for vapes in the world.

These regulations state that e-cigarette tanks should have a capacity of no more than 2ml, that the maximum volume of nicotine-containing e-liquid for sale in one refill container doesn’t exceed 10ml and that e-liquids are restricted to a nicotine strength of no more than 20 mg/ml.

The regulations also say nicotine-containing products or their packaging must be child-resistant and tamper evident. Certain ingredients are also banned, such as colourings, caffeine and taurine. The Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products Regulations are available to be viewed online. Also, manufacturers have to let the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) know about their new vaping products, so it's always a good idea to buy vapes and e-liquids from reliable companies who are following the rules.

The myths and misconceptions about vaping can put people off trying it as an alternative to smoking, which stops them from being able to take advantage of the various health benefits of making the switch.

If you’re curious about how to get started, have a look at our guide to swapping smoking for vaping. We’ve also got a handy article with lots of hints and tips for anyone who is new to vaping, to help you make sure you know how to get your device set up and other hints for making sure your transition from smoking to vaping is as smooth as possible.

Sources

nhs.uk

gov.uk 29/09/2022

cochranelibrary.com 12/09/2023

nejm.org 14/02/2019

cochrane.org 17/11/2022

nhs.uk

gov.uk 02/2018

gov.uk 04/11/2023

cancerresearchuk.org 14/12/2021

legislation.gov.uk 2016