In landmark news, a systematic review of available literature by Public Health England on the health and safety implications of electronic cigarettes concludes that their use is about 95 percent safer than smoking.

The authors conclude that smokers who have tried other methods of quitting without success could be encouraged to switch to e-cigarettes. In addition to encouraging their use as a cessation tool, encouraging switching could help reduce smoking-related disease, death and health inequalities.

The authors also conclude there is no evidence that young people’s experimentation with e-cigarettes has led to increased smoking in this group.

There is still a great deal to be learned about e-cigarettes. But these findings are crucial, given the rise of inaccurate perceptions that e-cigarettes are as harmful as tobacco cigarettes. Adopting this advice could have a profound public health impact for the 42 million Americans who still smoke.

Featured Publications