E-Cigarette Facts Check: How safe is vaping really?
E-cigarettes are all the rage – sometimes praised as a quitting aid for smokers, sometimes criticized through sensational headlines. For consumers, it is often difficult to distinguish between scaremongering and scientific facts.
As a specialized retailer, it is our job to provide clarity. In this article, we dispel myths and objectively analyze why health authorities classify Public Health England the e-cigarette as 95% less harmful compared to the tobacco cigarette.
Principle: Combustion vs. Vaporization
To assess the risks, one must understand the fundamental difference. The primary danger of smoking lies in the combustion.
- Tobacco cigarettes: Tobacco burns at 900 degrees. Over 4,800 chemicals are produced, including tar, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and arsenic. These are the main causes of cancer and heart attacks.
- E-cigarettes: Nothing burns here. A liquid is heated to about 200 degrees until it vaporizes. Since no combustion occurs, the carcinogenic combustion products (tar, carbon monoxide) are almost entirely absent from the vapor.
Table: The direct comparison
| Feature | Tobacco cigarette | E-cigarette |
| Process | Combustion (smoke) | Heating (Steam) |
| Main Toxic Substances | Tar, Carbon Monoxide, Benzene | Not present (when used correctly) |
| Ingredients | > 4,000 Chemicals | 4-5 Known Components |
| Odor | Deposits in Clothing/Walls | Vaporizes Quickly, Pleasant Scent |
| Risk Assessment | Extremely High | Significantly Reduced (Harm Reduction) |
What am I actually inhaling? (The ingredients)
A common criticism is the 'chemistry' in the e-cigarette. But unlike the mystery of cigarette smoke, the ingredients of e-liquids are precisely known and regulated (TPD2-compliant):
- Propylene Glycol (PG): Approved as a food additive (E1520), ensures flavor transport.
- Plant-based Glycerin (VG): Provides dense vapor, purely plant-based.
- Food flavors: For flavor (from tobacco to fruit).
- Nicotine: (Optional) An addictive substance that temporarily raises blood pressure, but – and this is important – not carcinogenic is.
Myths under the microscope: Popcorn lung & Co.
Many horror stories circulate on the internet. Let's look at the two most common ones:
Myth 1: “Vaping causes popcorn lung.”
Fact: This myth originates from the USA, where diacetyl was previously used in some flavors.
The reality: Diacetyl is strictly prohibited in e-liquids in the EU and Germany. With tested products like the ones you find with us, this risk does not exist.
Myth 2: “E-cigarettes explode.”
Fact: This happens extremely rarely and almost always due to user error (e.g., loose batteries in the pocket with keys).
The solution: Modern devices have numerous safety circuits. Those who transport batteries safely and use brand-name devices vape safely.
Who are e-cigarettes suitable for?
Here we need to draw a clear line. E-cigarettes are a product for Harm Reduction.
- For smokers: YES. Switching completely reduces your health risk significantly. Your lungs recover, the cough disappears, and you no longer inhale tar.
- For non-smokers & teenagers: NO. Those who do not smoke should not vape. E-liquids can contain nicotine, which is addictive. Our products are exclusively aimed at adult smokers and vapers.
Not harmless, but a huge opportunity
Are e-cigarettes “healthy” like an apple? No, no reputable source claims that. Inhaling foreign substances always carries a residual risk.
But the key question is: Are they better than tobacco cigarettes?
Science clearly says: Yes.
Those who manage to replace cigarettes with vapor are doing their bodies a great favor. The risk of lung cancer and COPD drops drastically. Don’t be misled by headlines – trust the facts.
