Liberty Flights comments on study suggesting that e-cig second-hand vapour contains only nicotine

Second-hand vapour from electronic cigarettes is less harmful than tobacco cigarettes, finds study

The debate about the health risks of using e-cigs rages on, but new research has discovered that being in the general proximity of a person using an e-cig is much safer than standing next to a tobacco smoker as second-hand vapour from e-cigs contain nicotine but none of the other damaging chemicals associated with second-hand smoke.

Electronic cigarettes are currently a hot topic, with governments and health experts in the UK and Europe considering regulations to curtail the use of e-cigs in restaurants and workplaces - E-cigs were recently outlawed in New York, USA, in indoor spaces, for example.

And now a study conducted by experts at the Roswell Park Cancer institute in Buffalo, New York has shown that the vapour emitted from e-cigs isn't nearly as bad for you as second-hand smoke from tobacco cigarettes. Maciej Goniewicz, a researcher at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, explained:

"E-cigarettes contain variable amounts of nicotine and some traces of toxicants. But very little is known to what extent non-users can be exposed to nicotine and other chemicals in situations when they are present in the same room with users of e-cigarettes.

"The exposure to nicotine is lower when compared to exposure from tobacco smoke. And we also know that nicotine is relatively safer when compared to other dangerous toxicants in tobacco smoke."

Goniewicz and his team carried out two separate studies into the effects of secondhand electronic cigarette vapour; the results were featured in Nicotine and Tobacco Research.

The first study measured carbon monoxide, nicotine levels and other harmful particle levels created by an ‘electronic smoking machine', while the second measured air quality while five regular smokers (all males) used their electronic cigarettes.

The researchers discovered that secondhand tobacco cigarette smoke was responsible for ten times the amount of nicotine in the atmosphere as electronic cigarettes.

"The exposure to nicotine is lower when compared to exposure from tobacco smoke. And we also know that nicotine is relatively safer when compared to other dangerous toxicants in tobacco smoke," Goniewicz said.

Another significant finding was that e-cigarette usage didn't change the level of carbon monoxide or other gases in the air.

"What we found is that non-users of e-cigarettes might be exposed to nicotine but not too many toxicants when they are in close proximity to e-cigarette users," explained Goniewicz.

A UK leader in the electronic cigarette marketplace, Liberty Flights, has reacted to the findings. A spokesman for the company said that the study will be well received by e-cig users.

"It's very good to see that, as suspected, e-cigs barely register on the harmful scale insofar as second-hand vapour is concerned. It's now a question of whether the government will heed the actual science when debating whether or not to outlaw e-cig use indoors," said a Liberty Flights spokesman.

Liberty Flights are hopeful that e-cigs will continue to be allowed in restaurants and the like, as they say the option of being able to use an e-cig where smoking isn't allowed may tempt tobacco smokers to make the switch.

"The option of being able to use an electronic cigarette where you wouldn't be able to use a tobacco cigarette is something that appeals to smokers," explained a spokesman for Liberty Flights. "If you take that away you're effectively taking away an incentive that could result in a person cutting out tobacco products for the rest of their life."

For further information on electronic cigarettes visit Liberty Flights at www.liberty-flights.co.uk.

For quotes, please speak to Matthew on 0845 257 9008: or Email: matthew@liberty-flights.co.uk

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