Studies Suggest That Electronic Cigarettes Are Not Harmful

by Jenny Spring

However, in researching the topic in greater detail, you can find a plethora of information based on substantial studies that suggest electronic cigarettes are, in fact, safe to use and pose no risks to bystanders.

Professor Igor Burstyn from the Drexel University School of Public Health conducted an extensive multi-year study examining over 9,000 observations regarding the ingredients used in electronic cigarette e-liquid. His findings were shocking to opponents of electronic cigarettes, while it was a confirmation to proponents of them. The study, which was funded by the Consumer Advocates For Smoke-Free Alternatives (CASAA), found that exposure to the ingredients in e-liquid posed no measurable negative health effects.

Although the study cannot be considered completely conclusive, it is definitely notable and worth paying attention to. The one major lack in the study is that it did not include the effects nicotine within it. Rather, the study focused on the effects of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and flavorings, which are the primary ingredients in e-liquid. However, when comparing the harmful health effects of smoking cigarettes versus electronic cigarettes, both of which contain nicotine, it is clear that the two are truly incomparable.

Another recent study by Professor Lawrence D. Phillips, an emeritus professor at the London School of Economics, has found similar results in his studies. Professor Phillips presented his findings at a recent conference of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), which was presented in June at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. In the presentation, Professor Phillips argued that: “e-cigarettes should be classified as a device for fighting nicotine addiction." He continued by stating: “it is well known that people smoke for the nicotine, but die from the smoke.”

Given these important studies, and the slew of other independent research that exists, all of which have concluded that electronic cigarettes pose little to no risk to users or bystanders, it is a wonder why so many municipalities have banned electronic cigarette use in public spaces, and have linked them to existing tobacco laws. This is especially surprising given the fact that the FDA has yet to release any finding of their own regarding the use of electronic cigarettes. One thing that seems to be clear, however, is that if electronic cigarettes pose any health risks, they pale in comparison to traditional tobacco cigarettes.