E-cigarettes cancer risk decreases by over 99 percent over the tobacco smoke

More and more institutions are in favor of the e-cigarette

Smokers can reduce their risk of developing cancers associated with tobacco smoke by up to 99.5 percent by switching to the significantly less harmful vapor of the e-cigarette. This reports the alliance for tobacco-free enjoyment (BfTG) and bases this statement on the latest findings from Germany, America and England.

On the occasion of the International World Cancer Day, the BfTG wants to motivate more smokers to switch to e-cigarettes to protect their own health. Three major current studies show a significantly lower harmfulness of e-cigarette vapor compared to tobacco smoke. According to the BfTG still 40 percent of smokers believe that e-cigarettes are just as harmful as tobacco smoke.

According to the UK health authorities, the risk of developing e-cigarette vapors from cancer is 99.5 percent lower than tobacco smoke. (Image: tibanna79 / fotolia.com)

Heat instead of burn

A major difference between e- and tobacco cigarettes lies in the nature of the heating. The tobacco is burned, creating a much more violent chemical reaction chain. "This process produces about 7,000 chemicals, including at least 70 chemicals that cause cancer," reports the American Cancer Society. For e-cigarettes, however, no combustion processes would take place. The steam of the e-cigarette is produced by a gentler heating process.

E-vapor contains hardly any carcinogenic substances

The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) also considers the e-cigarette less harmful. "E-cigarettes heat a mostly nicotine-containing liquid, and the resulting aerosol contains hardly any carcinogenic substances when used properly," Dr. Ute Mons, head of the Cancer Prevention Unit. She stressed that e-cigarette users and tobacco consumers could not be "lumped together".

Not all questions are resolved yet

Even though there are still questions about long-term use, Dr. Mons clear for the switch from: "Experts believe that e-cigarettes are probably significantly less harmful than conventional cigarettes - and probably less harmful than tobacco heaters," said the DKFZ expert.

99.5 percent lower cancer risk

The English health authorities even go one step further. Public Health England confirms in a recent study that the calculated risk of developing cancer can be reduced by 99.5 percent in the long term by switching to e-cigarettes.

Common misconception: Nicotine is the main cause of lung cancer

The UK Royal College of Physicians published a report in 2016 examining the potential harm reduction of e-cigarettes compared to tobacco. "However, the magnitude of the risk posed by the use of e-cigarettes is probably very small in absolute terms and therefore much lower than the risk of smoking tobacco," the researchers said. The main cause of lung cancer is that the lungs constantly come into contact with carcinogens that are found in tobacco smoke. Nicotine plays a minor role here. This also applies to the development of a smoker's lung (COPD) and to heart disease in smokers.

Enlightenment needed

"The vast majority of international research is in the assessment of harm reduction by e-cigarettes agree," summed up the Chairman of the Alliance for Tobacco-free enjoyment, Dustin Dahlmann, in a press release. He is in favor of a broad education campaign by the German health authorities. (Vb)

More information: Every cigarette poisons our body - e-cigarettes can be beneficial in weaning