It has been more than 10 years now that vaping has become popular in Europe and in particular in the United Kingdom, a real precursor in the field. Over the years, the equipment has evolved and the number of vapers has grown very widely even if the results remain mixed. In a recent forum, Cancer Research UK through the voice of Linda Bauld takes stock of vaping and the knowledge acquired during all his years.
VAPE, A BETTER KNOWLEDGE OF RISK REDUCTION TOOL!
Today, more than 10 years after the arrival of a proven smoking reduction tool, it is interesting to take stock of vaping and the knowledge acquired. The main selling point of cigarettes 
They are still a way to help people quit smoking and reduce the harms of the world's biggest cancer cause: tobacco.
» We have studies, but they are really quite limited. We also do not know enough about the impact of long-term use of these devices on health. "- Linda Bauld (Cancer Research UK)
While it can be hard to remember what was before vaping, it should be understood that in the grand scheme of research, 10 years is not that long. And we still have a lot to understand about them.
This is what specifies Linda Bauld, professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh and counselor in the prevention of Cancer Research UK which declares: " These are still relatively new products. But a tremendous amount of research has been done. It's a much more sophisticated discussion now than it was in the world. first years. "
Around 12 people search Google every month in the UK. And you can understand why there are a lot of mixed messages when it comes to vaping, with many headlines proclaiming that vaping is just as bad if not worse than smoking. In fact, research shows vaping is much less harmful than smoking.
» Some studies have shown the harmful effects of electronic cigarette vapor. However, these are usually done on animals or cells in the lab, rather than on humans. And the vapor concentrations of electronic cigarettes used are often much higher than those people would be exposed to in real life. "
Electronic cigarettes are relatively new products. For this reason, there isn't enough research on long-term use or their effects in people who have never smoked:
« The vast majority of people who vape are smokers or former smokers. It is therefore very difficult to disentangle the relationship between these two risks Says Bauld. " Definitive security answers can still take many years to identify. "
While much remains to be learned, what researchers have had time to observe over the decades is the enormous amount of research that shows tobacco to be extremely harmful. This is why experts can be convinced that electronic cigarettes are much less harmful than tobacco. This is widely accepted by researchers and public health organizations.
According to Linda Bauld, " Helping smokers quit and young people quit smoking is a really high priority in cancer prevention. So if e-cigarettes can help people quit smoking, cancer researchers are interested. "
There is often talk of a bridging effect, however, there is no real evidence for its existence: " Overall, there is no strong evidence of a gateway effect in the UK. Although e-cigarette experimentation among young people has increased in recent years, regular vaping among young people in the UK remains very low. In a representative survey of 11 to 18 year olds in Britain in 2020, out of 1926 who never smoked, not a single person reported vaping daily. "
Finally, regarding the hybrid vaping / smoking consumption, nothing is well established. There is currently no evidence that using both cigarettes and e-cigarettes is worse than just smoking. But it is clear that in order to get any health benefits, people have to switch completely from smoking to vaping.
And there are still unanswered questions here. Some people may go through a period where they smoke and vape to help them quit, but at this point we don't know how long this transition period lasts, or how it varies from person to person. the other.
