Study of cancer-causing toxins finds e-cigarettes much safer than smoking

[webfact]

Study of cancer-causing toxins finds e-cigarettes much safer than smoking

REUTERS

 

Electronic cigarettes are displayed in a shop in London, Britain August 19, 2015. REUTERS/Neil Hall

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Consuming e-cigarettes is far safer and less toxic than smoking conventional tobacco cigarettes, according to the findings of a study analyzing levels of dangerous and cancer-causing substances in the body.

 

Researchers found that people who switched from smoking regular cigarettes to e-cigarettes or nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) such as gum or patches for at least six months had much lower levels of toxins in their saliva and urine than those who continued to smoke.

 

"Our study adds to existing evidence showing that e-cigarettes and NRT are far safer than smoking, and suggests that there is a very low risk associated with their long-term use," said Lion Shahab, a specialist in epidemiology and public health at University College London who led the work.

 

E-cigarettes, which heat nicotine-laced liquid into vapor, have grown into an $8 billion-a-year market, according to Euromonitor International - more than three times that of NRT products. They are, however, still dwarfed by a tobacco market estimated by Euromonitor to be worth around $700 billion.

 

Many health experts think e-cigarettes, or vapes, which do not contain tobacco, are a lower-risk alternative to smoking and potentially a major public health tool.

 

But some question their long-term safety and worry that they may act as a "gateway" to taking up conventional cigarettes. The U.S. surgeon general in December urged lawmakers to impose price and tax policies that would discourage their use.

 

Monday's study, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, analyzed saliva and urine samples from long-term e-cigarette and NRT users as well as smokers, and compared levels of key chemicals found in their bodies.

 

It found that smokers who switched completely to e-cigarettes or NRT had significantly lower levels of toxic chemicals and carcinogens compared to people who continued to smoke tobacco cigarettes.

 

Those who used e-cigarettes or NRT but did not completely quit smoking did not show the same drop in toxin levels. This underlined that a complete switch was needed to get the long-term health benefits of quitting tobacco, the researchers said.

 

The World Health Organization says tobacco is the world's biggest preventable killer, with a predicted cumulative death toll of a billion by the end of this century if current trends continue. Tobacco smoking currently kills around 6 million people a year.

 

Kevin Fenton, national director of health and wellbeing at the government authority Public Health England, said the findings held a clear message for tobacco smokers.

 

"Switching to e-cigarettes can significantly reduce harm to smokers, with greatly reduced exposure to carcinogens and toxins," he said in a statement. "The findings also make clear that the benefit is only realized if people stop smoking completely and make a total switch.

 

"The best thing a smoker can do, for themselves and those around them, is to quit now, completely and forever."

 

(Reporting by Kate Kelland; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-02-07

[oval]

Are we allowed to smoke e-cigs in Thailand?

[Grouse]

Pity they don't state the key fact:

 

It's burning tobacco at a high temperature due to nitrate impregnated papers (gun powder if you like) that results in carcinogenic combustion products. They do this so that cigarettes don't "go out". Cigars and pipes are better alternatives as these smoulder at a significantly lower temperature and are not usually inhaled. E-cigarettes (damn silly name) is a great way to get people off cigarettes. Worked for my son (the airline pilot).

 

Illegal in Thailand. Ridiculous.

[Grouse]

7 minutes ago, oval said:

Are we allowed to smoke e-cigs in Thailand?

Yes but you can't buy them or the liquid legally

[Titan1962]

I was a smoker for 35 yrs,Quit a couple of times for about 12 to 24 months.But when i got really stressed out went back to the cigs to help.

Now i have been on the vape tool for about six months. Enjoy it a lot, bought a couple of cheap vape tools,not to successful. upgraded to a hybrid mod a few months later. Chose the wrong mod. Now i have a couple of decent hybrids,and learnt how to make my own coils. Its like a hobby now. I spend a bit of time on you tube learning the ropes.

To anyone out there wanting to quit,look at you tube,learn a bit about it first. Buy a decent Temperature controlled mode and a couple of Rebuildable tanks. I ended up with 2 Smok aliens,and 2 avocado top airflow tanks. and two vapersso tanks. Really happy now,but wasted a few bucks on getting there. Now i am just trying to find a few good juices that i like. I still need a juice with nicotine in it as i still get the craves for it. Started of with 12mg.,now down to 6mg. Then i will head down to 3 mg after a few months. Hopefully get myself right of the nicotine altogether.

To get started and have what you need you will need to spend about 8000 baht.

Feeling better already,plus the GF really happy i dont stink of cigs. Just go to be a bit careful when smoking when i am out and about.

 

 

 

[55Jay]

36 minutes ago, Titan1962 said:

I was a smoker for 35 yrs,Quit a couple of times for about 12 to 24 months.But when i got really stressed out went back to the cigs to help.

Now i have been on the vape tool for about six months. Enjoy it a lot, bought a couple of cheap vape tools,not to successful. upgraded to a hybrid mod a few months later. Chose the wrong mod. Now i have a couple of decent hybrids,and learnt how to make my own coils. Its like a hobby now. I spend a bit of time on you tube learning the ropes.

To anyone out there wanting to quit,look at you tube,learn a bit about it first. Buy a decent Temperature controlled mode and a couple of Rebuildable tanks. I ended up with 2 Smok aliens,and 2 avocado top airflow tanks. and two vapersso tanks. Really happy now,but wasted a few bucks on getting there. Now i am just trying to find a few good juices that i like. I still need a juice with nicotine in it as i still get the craves for it. Started of with 12mg.,now down to 6mg. Then i will head down to 3 mg after a few months. Hopefully get myself right of the nicotine altogether.

To get started and have what you need you will need to spend about 8000 baht.

Feeling better already,plus the GF really happy i dont stink of cigs. Just go to be a bit careful when smoking when i am out and about.

You can indeed.  I started on Low nicotine juice.  Got some 0% juice from the US and diluted the Low even further.  Then stopped vaping altogether. 

[Prbkk]

45 minutes ago, 55Jay said:

You can indeed.  I started on Low nicotine juice.  Got some 0% juice from the US and diluted the Low even further.  Then stopped vaping altogether. 

Well done, you...but most of us will never make that transition to zero. And the big mistake many make in shifting to vaping is to set the nicotine level too low: people assume a 12 or 15 mg juice is like a standard/light cigarette....it's not, way too low. Consequently people don't get an adequate nicotine 'hit' and find vaping unsatisfying. It's better, IMHO, to go for a big whack of nicotine, 18mg minimum, even 24mg....and then reduce once the vaping is satisfying.

 

[oval]

Any suggestions on good vendors, good starter packs, and good liquids?

 

[Prbkk]

34 minutes ago, oval said:

Any suggestions on good vendors, good starter packs, and good liquids?

 

 

There is a Thai Vapers forum: someone will have the exact link. Details of vendors are , also liquid discussion, vape gear, advice. Well worth a visit.

[Krataiboy]

Why don't manufacturers just remove the highly-addictive nicotine from tobacco, as brewers did to make non-addictive alcohol free beer. That way nobody would get hooked.

 

. . . Oh dear, I've just answered my own question!

Edited February 7, 2017 by Krataiboy
err

[johng]

because no one (well maybe a few nutters) wants to drink non alcoholic beer or smoke tobacco with no nicotine...its pointless without the effects of the drug.

[jollyhangmon]

5 hours ago, Grouse said:

Yes but you can't buy them or the liquid legally

Only one reason for imho:

They haven't set up a 'proper' tax-regime for these products (yet) ... aka fear of missing out on coin ... 

 

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, Krataiboy said:

Why don't manufacturers just remove the highly-addictive nicotine from tobacco, as brewers did to make non-addictive alcohol free beer. That way nobody would get hooked.

 

. . . Oh dear, I've just answered my own question!

Partially - with addictive nicotine e-cigarettes compete with the Thai state-owned tobacco monopoly.

[Jonmarleesco]

So as a non-smoker, I can breathe in a quantity of what looks like serious competition to the Flying Scotsman without being overly concerned for my health? That's a relief, then.

[johng]

The exhaust emissions from vehicles , power stations and farmers burning fields compete much more equally than a few e-cigges.

[Titan1962]

5 hours ago, Prbkk said:

Well done, you...but most of us will never make that transition to zero. And the big mistake many make in shifting to vaping is to set the nicotine level too low: people assume a 12 or 15 mg juice is like a standard/light cigarette....it's not, way too low. Consequently people don't get an adequate nicotine 'hit' and find vaping unsatisfying. It's better, IMHO, to go for a big whack of nicotine, 18mg minimum, even 24mg....and then reduce once the vaping is satisfying.

 

I may never be able to get of the nicotine. But that's ok,I would rather be doing this with 3 or 6 mg than puffing on a cig. Plus I really enjoy sitting having a coffee using the Vape machine. 

  I read somewhere that a major tobacco company is already looking into making juice and mods. They can see that people are looking for a safer alternative. So I think in a few years when they get their shit together,you will be able to buy the juice from seven Eleven,Just like you do with normal cigs,looking forward to that.As for the mods maybe better of sticking to a vape shop.

But we can only hope. 

[Titan1962]

37 minutes ago, Jonmarleesco said:

So as a non-smoker, I can breathe in a quantity of what looks like serious competition to the Flying Scotsman without being overly concerned for my health? That's a relief, then.

I agree, it can't be as harmful as cig smoke,or all the pollution coming out of cars and bikes. But there will always be something to kick us in the arse. 

Look at all the chemicals they put on the VEG and fruit. Shit I could end up with an extra arm or leg. LOL.  An extra pecker I wouldn't mind. LOL. 

[Kinnock]

If you need a dummy, just buy a dummy - no need for an electronic device.

[TPI]

9 hours ago, Prbkk said:

Well done, you...but most of us will never make that transition to zero. And the big mistake many make in shifting to vaping is to set the nicotine level too low: people assume a 12 or 15 mg juice is like a standard/light cigarette....it's not, way too low. Consequently people don't get an adequate nicotine 'hit' and find vaping unsatisfying. It's better, IMHO, to go for a big whack of nicotine, 18mg minimum, even 24mg....and then reduce once the vaping is satisfying.

 

Sound advice, E smokes don't affect nonsmokers at all, no second hand smoke so Thailand what's the problem?

[Titan1962]

16 hours ago, Kinnock said:

If you need a dummy, just buy a dummy - no need for an electronic device.

If you need a drink just drink water. We all have our vices. 

[retell]

never tried to stop smoking but after a good 25 years of heavy  consuming (cigarettes, rolling , joints ) i just decided to quit , just like that ,thats it. now over 2 years no smoke , did have a vaper but only used it to smoke when and where it is not allowed to smoke real ones

it's not a biggy , after the first 6 years it will get easier they say 555 

 

[Titan1962]

2 minutes ago, retell said:

never tried to stop smoking but after a good 25 years of heavy  consuming (cigarettes, rolling , joints ) i just decided to quit , just like that ,thats it. now over 2 years no smoke , did have a vaper but only used it to smoke when and where it is not allowed to smoke real ones

it's not a biggy , after the first 6 years it will get easier they say 555 

 

That's great well done. Like I said before I quit for a couple years,cold turkey. But when the shit hit the fan I went back. But now I just enjoy vaping, I must admit not the same as a cig. But I can't see myself going back now I have this.

[superal]

I 

On 07/02/2017 at 9:59 AM, oval said:

Are we allowed to smoke e-cigs in Thailand?

I have been told that if Thai customs find ecigs on your person or stowed in your luggage you will be in for a hefty fine . I had 2 friends come here recently and both were ecig smokers but left them at home because they had been warned of the penalties as ecigs are against the law in Thailand . Through the grapevine I hear that there steps being taken to legalise them once the new tax system has been agreed , possibly this year . 

[Titan1962]

1 minute ago, superal said:

I 

I have been told that if Thai customs find ecigs on your person or stowed in your luggage you will be in for a hefty fine . I had 2 friends come here recently and both were ecig smokers but left them at home because they had been warned of the penalties as ecigs are against the law in Thailand . Through the grapevine I hear that there steps being taken to legalise them once the new tax system has been agreed , possibly this year . 

I hope so.

its a ridiculous environment,its illegal but you can buy them here.

it all boils down to the money and 

who can get their fare share. Once they work this out it will become legal.

 

[Prbkk]

23 hours ago, superal said:

I 

I have been told that if Thai customs find ecigs on your person or stowed in your luggage you will be in for a hefty fine . I had 2 friends come here recently and both were ecig smokers but left them at home because they had been warned of the penalties as ecigs are against the law in Thailand . Through the grapevine I hear that there steps being taken to legalise them once the new tax system has been agreed , possibly this year . 

I go through BKK 30 or 40 times a year: never had a problem with ecigs . In the early days they showed some interest, but that was more from curiosity I think. No one cares. Pack them well in hand carry and the juices in the plastic bag...Bob's your uncle. Singapore is a different matter: a bit of creative disassembling required to get through checks.

Edited February 9, 2017 by Prbkk

[superal]

49 minutes ago, Prbkk said:

I go through BKK 30 or 40 times a year: never had a problem with ecigs . In the early days they showed some interest, but that was more from curiosity I think. No one cares. Pack them well in hand carry and the juices in the plastic bag...Bob's your uncle. Singapore is a different matter: a bit of creative disassembling required to get through checks.

and that will only compound the problem if you are searched because if they consider or interpret  concealment the penalty will be tougher . Thai immigration officers are now up to  speed on e-cigs and there is much money to be earned on a find . Just carrying 400 normal cigs can set you back 50.000 baht fine . If the penalty was confiscation only it may be worth taking a chance . Good luck  

[Prbkk]

2 hours ago, superal said:

and that will only compound the problem if you are searched because if they consider or interpret  concealment the penalty will be tougher . Thai immigration officers are now up to  speed on e-cigs and there is much money to be earned on a find . Just carrying 400 normal cigs can set you back 50.000 baht fine . If the penalty was confiscation only it may be worth taking a chance . Good luck  

I'm not sure where you get your information but I believe it is incorrect. Ecigs are prohibited for sale in Thailand; the use of them is not. Customs have seen my ecigs any number of times....they are completely uninterested in them ( sure, boxes of them might attract closer scrutiny in it appeared that they were being imported for sale; personal use is not a problem, in my observation and experience).

Edited February 9, 2017 by Prbkk

[superal]

35 minutes ago, Prbkk said:

I'm not sure where you get your information but I believe it is incorrect. Ecigs are prohibited for sale in Thailand; the use of them is not. Customs have seen my ecigs any number of times....they are completely uninterested in them ( sure, boxes of them might attract closer scrutiny in it appeared that they were being imported for sale; personal use is not a problem, in my observation and experience).

It seems to be something of a grey area and having looked on the web there are cases where the ecig is smoked openly and the police are not concerned , however if you read the attached link you are leaving yourself open to prosecution if they choose to invoke the law 

14. Re: Vaping in Thailand clarification

Oct 17, 2016, 10:17 AM

 

 

 

Just advised by Thailand Authority for Tourism Advice E Cig & Vape is illegal to take into Thailand (even for personal use), carries a 10 year prison sentence, or hefty fine, the Customs & Excise rule is written in Thai (so wouldn't be able to read) and the Commerce department passed a bill 2 years ago banning these items. TATA have promised to write the BLOG on Facebook and other sites to ensure UK citizens are fully aware of the risk.

just saying 

[Prbkk]

6 hours ago, superal said:

It seems to be something of a grey area and having looked on the web there are cases where the ecig is smoked openly and the police are not concerned , however if you read the attached link you are leaving yourself open to prosecution if they choose to invoke the law 

14. Re: Vaping in Thailand clarification

Oct 17, 2016, 10:17 AM

 

 

 

Just advised by Thailand Authority for Tourism Advice E Cig & Vape is illegal to take into Thailand (even for personal use), carries a 10 year prison sentence, or hefty fine, the Customs & Excise rule is written in Thai (so wouldn't be able to read) and the Commerce department passed a bill 2 years ago banning these items. TATA have promised to write the BLOG on Facebook and other sites to ensure UK citizens are fully aware of the risk.

just saying 

Thanks: hope they don't enforce, I'm too old for prison

[mcfish]

Blah blah.. Lots of studies reversed over the years. Once upon a time eggs gave you cholesterol

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