Stop ignoring the dangers of e-cigarettes, top scientist tells Public Health England
He warned nicotine in e-cigs is not harmless and said we don't know true long-term effects of vaping
A LEADING scientist has accused health bosses of purposely "ignoring" the dangers of vaping.
Professor Martin McKee from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine says that he has "serious concerns" about the safety of e-cigs.
However, Public Health England (PHE) recommends that the NHS prescribes e-cigs as a means of helping people quit smoking.
They're claimed to be up to 95 per cent less harmful than cigarettes.
Prof McKee claims that PHE is choosing to promote vaping whilst wilfully ignoring the potential dangers - despite the fact that nearly 16 per cent of teens report having tried e-cigs.
Nicotine isn't a harmless drug
"The nicotine in e-cigarettes is not a harmless drug and then there are all these other things such as flavourings that are inhaled," he said.
"We haven't had e-cigarettes for long enough to know the true effects. But when we look at the evidence we do have, there are enough grounds for serious concerns.
"Given the short-term effects on lung function and cardiovascular effects, there is enough evidence to say we should be very, very careful."
He said that the conversation shouldn't be how much more safe e-cigs are than regular cigarettes, but whether they're safe at all.
E-cigs have risks
His comments aren't the first to throw the safety of vaping pens into question.
We previously revealed that millions of vapers are at higher risk of heart attack and stroke, with vaping increasing the risk by as much as 71 per cent.
Two popular flavourings - caramel and popcorn - have also been found to destroy lung function.
And last month, a study found that vapers were twice as likely to suffer wheezing and breathing difficulties as non-smokers.
Teens are at risk
Prof McKee has warned that vaping companies are targeting teens, and putting their health in danger.
"The firms are trying to become socially acceptable," he said.
"They have been international pariahs and now they're trying to present themselves as part of the solution".
But Public Health England insists that "false fears" over vaping and stopping many smokers from using them.
Professor John Newton, director of health improvement at Public Health England, said that although they were aware of the risks, "there is widespread academic and clinical consensus that while not without risk, vaping is far less harmful than smoking".
"This view is held by many across the world, including the Royal College of Physicians, Cancer Research UK, the British Medical Association and the National Academy of Sciences in the US," he said.
MORE ON VAPING
But Prof McKee said that PHE seemed to be "ignoring the risks...particularly those linked to cardiovascular disease".
"Very early on it latched on to this figure that electronic cigarettes are 95 per cent safer than smoking, which is very difficult to go back on," he said.
"But the evidence keeps coming that this is not the case, as PHE continues promoting e-cigarettes in advertisements.";
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