Do Vapes Have a Smoking Cessation and Harm Reduction Effect? 10 Major Authoritative Studies Confirm Their Benefits

Every year, tobacco-related diseases cause more than 8 million deaths worldwide. The combustion of cigarettes produces harmful substances like tar and over 7,000 chemical compounds, including 69 carcinogens. Studies have shown that vapes can reduce up to 95% of the harm caused by smoking. According to data from the UK’s Public Health Organization KAC, the global number of vape users has rapidly increased from 58 million in 2018 to 114 million in 2023.

This article summarizes the top ten authoritative studies from the past five years, which confirm the potential of vapes in helping smokers quit and reduce harm.

Evidence 1: Switching to Vapes Reduces Carcinogen Levels by Up to 99%

In November 2023, a study led by King’s College London compared the levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in smokers and vape users. TSNAs are a group of the most lethal carcinogens among the 69 identified in cigarettes, including NNK (linked to lung cancer), NNN (linked to liver and pancreatic cancers), NNAL (causing DNA mutations), and toxic substances like NAB and NAT.

The study found that after switching to vapes, TSNA levels in smokers dropped by more than 90%, with NAT levels reducing by as much as 99%. Additionally, the longer the smokers used vapes, the more significant the reduction in harm. For example, after just one week of switching to vapes, NNAL levels in their urine decreased by 53%, and after four weeks, the decrease was as high as 84%. This shows that the NNAL previously inhaled from cigarettes was being progressively cleared from the smokers’ bodies.

Evidence 2: Vaping Does Not Cause Lung Damage

In June 2023, a research team from Shanghai’s Tenth People’s Hospital published a study in the authoritative journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety that highlighted the lower impact of vapes on lung health, especially in young people, compared to cigarettes. Cigarettes reduce lung capacity and can lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and other diseases, while vaping causes minimal related damage.

The study used animal experiments where young mice were exposed to either cigarette smoke or vape vapor, and the risks to their lung health were measured. The results showed that cigarettes increased inhalation resistance, led to respiratory function decline, expanded alveolar spaces (causing emphysema), and thickened airway walls, leading to COPD. Vapes, on the other hand, did not result in significant pathological changes in the lungs. In particular, mice with light vape use showed no difference in lung health compared to normal, non-exposed mice.

Evidence 3: Switching to Vapes Improves Vascular Function by an Average of 1.5%

In 2021, the University of Dundee in the UK published a study showing that after switching to vapes, smokers experienced improvements in their cardiovascular health.

The ultra-fine particles in cigarette smoke enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation, which can damage the heart and circulatory system. “Medical research indicates that a 1% improvement in vascular function can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease, by 13%. We found that after just one month of switching to vapes, smokers' vascular function improved by an average of 1.5%, which is a significant improvement,” said Professor Jacob George from Dundee University’s Cardiovascular Medicine and Therapeutics department.

Evidence 4: Vaping Does Not Cause Genetic Abnormalities

In July 2023, researchers at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine published a paper showing that smoking causes hundreds of gene expression abnormalities, leading to multiple cancers, while vaping causes almost no such changes. The study mainly examined the differential expression of genes (DEGs) in smokers, vape users, and non-smokers.

The results showed that genetic abnormalities caused by smoking were significantly more common than those caused by vaping, both in blood and sputum samples. In the vape group, only two DEGs were found in sputum, while in the smoker group, 270 DEGs were detected—135 times more than in the vape group.

Evidence 5: Switching to Vapes Reduces COPD Disease Progression by 50%

 

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common chronic illness characterized by symptoms like coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. If left untreated, it has a high mortality rate. A 2021 study by the University of Catania’s Tobacco Harm Reduction Center in Italy showed that smoking worsened the progression of COPD, but smokers who switched to vapes experienced a 50% reduction in the worsening of their condition.

 

The study followed 39 COPD patients over 60 months. The data showed that in the group that switched to vapes, nine patients successfully quit smoking, and the remaining 11 smokers significantly reduced their cigarette intake. These patients experienced a 50% reduction in disease progression, with significant, sustained improvements in lung function, respiratory health, and physical activity. In contrast, the smoking group showed no notable improvements.

 

As more smokers turn to alternatives like vapes, questions often arise about their safety. For example, many may ask, "Is Flum vape safe?" or "Where is the nearest Flum vape store?" It's essential to keep in mind that while vapes like Flum may present less harm compared to traditional cigarettes, their long-term safety is still under study. While vaping is considered a less harmful alternative, especially when used as a smoking cessation tool, users should always consult with healthcare professionals before making any changes to their smoking habits. For those seeking a local option, searching for "Flum vape near me" will typically provide nearby stores or online retailers where Flum vapes are sold.

 

Evidence 6: Switching to Vapes Improves Oral Health

In March 2023, researchers from Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences) published a study showing that vapes cause less harm to oral health compared to cigarettes and may be less likely to cause periodontal diseases.

The study compared the effects of vaping and smoking on the survival rate of gum epithelial cells, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inflammation markers. The gum epithelial cells serve as the first natural barrier in the periodontal tissue and play an important role in oral health. The results showed that at the same nicotine concentration, the apoptosis rate of gum epithelial cells exposed to cigarette smoke condensates was 26.97%, 2.15 times higher than that of cells exposed to vape aerosol.

Evidence 7: Nearly 70% of Smokers Report Improved Health After Switching to Vapes

In 2023, a research team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s School of Public Health published the 2023 Report on the Characteristics of E-Cigarette Users and Public Health Impact in China. The report found that nearly 70% of domestic vape users believe their health improved after switching from cigarettes to vapes.

Specifically, users reported improvements in symptoms such as coughing, sore throat, bad breath, dry mouth, bitter taste, and yellowing of teeth and fingers after switching to vapes. The study also found that users of nationally standardized vape products reported higher improvements in these symptoms compared to those using non-standardized products.

Evidence 8: The Success Rate of Using Vapes to Quit Smoking is Twice as High as Other Methods

In 2024, the international medical journal JAMA Network Open published a study showing that vapes are more effective than other methods for smoking cessation. The study found that the success rate of quitting smoking with vapes is twice as high as with other methods.

The study, supported by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), followed nearly 2,000 US adults over an 8-year period. The results showed that the more frequently smokers used vapes, the more attempts they made to quit smoking. Among smokers who were highly motivated to quit, the success rate of quitting with vapes was 39.1%, compared to only 20.8% with other methods.

Evidence 9: Vapes Produce Almost No Secondhand Smoke

In December 2023, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) published a major article addressing myths and facts about e-cigarettes, responding to public concerns about vaping.

Regarding secondhand smoke, the NHS stated that there is currently no evidence to suggest that e-cigarette vapor harms people nearby. If there is any risk, it is extremely low. The NHS also advised that it is best not to use vapes around children, individuals with asthma, or others with health problems.

Evidence 10: Long-Term Use of Vapes Does Not Increase the Risk of Addiction

In 2024, the University of Geneva published the results of an 8-year-long tracking study. The research showed that vaping does not increase the nicotine dependency of users, and their "vape addiction" is much lower than cigarette addiction.

The study followed nearly 400 vape users from 2012 to 2021. Data indicated that over the 8 years, two-thirds of dual users completely quit smoking by switching to vapes. For those still using vapes, their nicotine dependence dropped from 75 out of 100 in 2012 to 60 out of 100 by 2021, with a significant reduction in the frequency and intensity of vape use. These users also actively chose low-nicotine vape products, with the nicotine concentration in their e-liquids halved compared to 2012.

Eighty percent of smokers who switched to vapes reported that their dependency on vapes was lower than their previous dependence on cigarettes. Furthermore, among smokers trying to quit, 97% stated that vaping helped them in their cessation journey.