Cancer Research has come forward to voice their opposition to some of the recent media claims that may mislead the public, and in turn, risk lives.
They have challenged opinions that suggest e-cigarettes may not be a safer option than traditional tobacco products, but, as Cancer Research have pointed out, evidence points to the contrary.
One of the studies published on this subject that has been referenced by the media included researchers treating cells with tobacco smoke and e-cigarette vapour respectively, which resulted in the tobacco-treated cells dying within 24 hours, whilst the e-cig vapour-treated cells continued to live 8 weeks later. What this indicated is that e-cigarette smoke vapour was clearly less harmful to the cells than cigarette smoke.
The sceptical viewpoint on the media’s attitude towards electronic alternatives has been echoed by Truth Initiative, a USA-based anti-smoking agency, who have dismissed studies “marred by poor measurement of exposures and unmeasured confounders” that may influence ideas that those who use e–cigarettes are less likely to quit. Again, this is directly challenged by evidence and data, and by the fact that many of the studies that are used to bolster this stance are inconsistently measured, giving inaccurate results.
The message that Cancer Research UK were keen to reaffirm is that evidence suggests that e-cigarettes are still less harmful than tobacco alternatives, and to treat media frenzy objectively.
