A review suggesting a link between nicotine vaping and oral and lung cancer – titled The carcinogenicity of e-cigarettes: a qualitative risk assessment – has been grabbing headlines since its publication yesterday.
Experts quoted by the Science Media Centre have warned that the review’s conclusions are ‘misleading’, described the paper as ‘problematic’ and highlighted concerns with its methodology: Science Media Centre reaction.
Commenting on the paper, Dr Marina Murphy, Senior Director of Scientific Affairs for Haypp Group and member of the independent Vape Verify panel, said:
“This is largely a qualitative review drawing heavily on low-quality studies, including in vitro (study of cells) and animal experiments using unrealistic exposure scenarios.
“Such studies may demonstrate biological plausibility, but plausibility alone is a weak basis for public health alarm – especially when similar mechanisms are observed with everyday exposures such as cooking fumes, cleaning aerosols and urban air pollution.
“Studying cells can be useful, but limited in what can be deduced from them. If I were to pour coffee on cells in a lab, they will die. Should I conclude, that coffee will kill me? The answer is obviously No!”
John Dunne, Director General of the UK Vaping Industry Association, added:
“The lead author of this review is quoted as saying it shows vaping is ‘not an alternative to smoking…to anything in the context of being safer.’ But tell that to the millions of adults using vaping to cut down or quit smoking – which still claims 80,000 lives every year in the UK.
“Or tell it to health institutions such as the NHS, the Royal College of Physicians and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, all of which agree that vaping – while not risk-free – is significantly less harmful than smoking.
“Cancer Research UK, the world’s largest independent cancer charity, maintains there is ‘no good evidence’ that vaping causes cancer.”
He continued: “In response to this review, Professor Peter Hajek of Queen Mary University London said the study’s conclusions are ‘misleading’ and warned that ‘misinforming smokers risks discouraging them from using e-cigarettes.’ It’s exactly this kind of confusion that threatens the nation’s smokefree future – and it’s what we aim to tackle every year through our vape awareness campaign, VApril, launching tomorrow.”
Visit Vape Verify to see how the panel is scrutinising vape research and follow developments on this review.