Study: vaping is harmless… even indoors
Although vaping continues to be unfairly compared to smoking, a new scientific study shows just how harmless it really its. In collaboration between Kaunas’ University of Technology, federal laboratories in Switzerland, ETH Zurich and Fontem Ventures, the study focused on e-cigarette vapour.
The hypothesis was that unlike traditional smoking, vaping does not have a detrimental effect on air quality. Not surprisingly, the hypothesis was confirmed! The experiment asked participants to vape in a closed space, and different groups were studied under different conditions, including whether or not the room had a ventilation system.
The study’s results also showed that electronic cigarette vapour dissipates in just a few seconds. Indeed, this is orders of magnitude better than the 30-45 minutes it takes for cigarette smoke to fully dissipate. Even when participants vaped in a room without ventilation, the air quality returned to normal in a few seconds.
Dr. O’Connell, the lead researcher in the study, highlighted just how significant the differences are between e-cigarette vapour and cigarette smoke. Of course, this only further demonstrates why it is illogical to compare traditional smoking to vaping.
Further proof that vaping is safe
We already knew that e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than traditional cigarettes, especially in terms of the cancer risk. But these results further back up previous studies that clearly show the differences between smoking and vaping.
These results also bring into question the April 27 law that prohibits vaping in public spaces. The law took effect on October 1, 2024, which has done harm to the idea that vaping is in fact a healthy alternative. Nonetheless, the law still allows people to smoke in closed spaces, so long as there is no one else in the room.
In conclusion, the research is promising, and opponents of vaping should find new arguments. Sadly, however, facts and proof are not sufficient, as we now see other countries banning vaping in public places.
