In a bid to quit smoking, many are turning to vaping instead. But is it truly safer?

If you’ve stubbed out your last cigarette and reached for a vape instead, you’re one of many people who’ve quit cigarettes. Perhaps it’s for health reasons or you’ve been enticed by the “sweeter” alternative to smoking. Still, you may be wondering if vaping and e-cigarettes truly are the safer, healthier option.

Let’s start here: what is vaping?

Vaping is the act of using a handheld electronic device that transmits mist or vapour into your lungs. The practice involves a liquid that contains nicotine, flavouring, propylene glycol, and other additives which are heated in an e-cigarette, vape pen, or other electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS). From these ingredients, an aerosol is created that is inhaled through a mouthpiece.

It makes sense that vaping is seen as the so-called healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes, as vaping may reduce exposure to some of the toxic by-products of burning tobacco.

However, vaping introduces its own mix of chemicals, ultra-fine particles, and nicotine delivery systems that affect the lungs, heart, and brain in ways researchers are still trying to fully understand.

What are e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs)?

As explained by The Tobacco Atlas, “E-cigarettes heat a liquid, typically composed of a base chemical (e.g., propylene glycol) plus nicotine, flavoring, and other chemicals. HTPs are related products, but they heat sticks of processed tobacco just short of combustion (called “pyrolysis”), and users inhale the resulting aerosol.”

It’s important to know that HTPs are not e-cigarettes. HTPs heat tobacco to generate nicotine, while e-cigarettes heat e-liquid, which may or may not contain nicotine and in most cases do not contain tobacco. In terms of safety, the bad news is that e-cigarette use has been linked to negative cardiovascular and pulmonary effects, and the exposure to high levels of nicotine is concerning for brain development in young children.

According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), vaping is not a safe alternative to smoking, especially for teenagers and young adults.

While vapes may look sleek and smell like sweets, they are anything but harmless. Nicotine addiction, lung damage, and increased risk of moving on to cigarettes are just a few of the health dangers. In fact, a recent South African study found that one in six high school students already use vapes.

Is vaping safer than cigarettes? What the research actually says

Research from Johns Hopkins University on vape ingredients reveals thousands of chemical ingredients in vape products, most of which are not yet identified. Among the identified ingredients were several potentially harmful substances, including caffeine, three chemicals never previously found in e-cigarettes, a pesticide and two flavourings linked with possible toxic effects and respiratory irritation.

Other research points out that while e-cigarettes may expose users to fewer combustion-related toxins than traditional cigarettes, they are not harmless. Vaping aerosols contain nicotine, dangerous compounds, heavy metals, and other cancer-causing chemicals that can irritate and damage lung tissue, compounding long-term disease risk.

At the same time, we simply don’t have enough long-term data to ascertain that nicotine itself directly causes lung cancer.

The main concern is that nicotine sustains addiction, which prolongs exposure to harmful substances in e-cigarette aerosols and may indirectly increase cancer risk. Studies to date focus on biological markers and chemical exposure, but decades-long follow-up is necessary to establish a direct causal link.

Vaping and lung health

As e-cigarettes are still relatively new, its link to lung cancer is still to be definitively determined. This doesn’t mean we can ignore the potential risks simply because we don’t yet have the necessary hard and fast statistics.

According to the American Lung Association, “E-cigarettes produce a number of dangerous chemicals including acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde. These aldehydes can cause lung disease, as well as cardiovascular (heart) disease. E-cigarettes also contain acrolein, a herbicide primarily used to kill weeds. It can cause acute lung injury and COPD and may cause asthma and lung cancer.”

Vaping and tobacco laws: stronger legislation matters

Unfortunately, current tobacco laws in South Africa are outdated and full of loopholes. Vape products are sold near schools and online shops rarely check a child’s age. On social media, vaping may seem trendy and a healthier alternative to smoking, yet the long-term damage can be significant.

Stronger legislation matters. According to CANSA, electronic cigarettes must be regulated to ensure that children don’t become the next generation of nicotine users. One of the biggest concerns is flavouring. Sweet, fruity and dessert-inspired vapes are widely seen as a major reason young people try them in the first place. Flavours can make nicotine feel less harsh, which lowers the barrier for experimentation, and that experimentation can quickly turn into addiction. That’s why banning flavoured e-cigarettes is often suggested as a way to reduce their appeal to teenagers.

It’s also important to remember that e-cigarettes still deliver nicotine, sometimes in very high concentrations. Nicotine is addictive, whether it comes from a cigarette or a vape, and it’s concerning that teens who start vaping may be more likely to move on to traditional cigarettes later.

Health experts are also wary of how vaping products are marketed. While they’re often presented as a “safer” option, current research links vaping to lung irritation, cardiovascular strain, chest pain, oral health issues, and exposure to chemicals associated with cancer risk. We may not yet have 30-year studies, but the warning signs are already there.

There’s further debate around claims that e-cigarettes help people quit smoking. While some people use them as a quitting tool, misleading marketing claims can undermine medically approved cessation options like nicotine replacement therapy, prescription medication, and structured support programmes. If vaping products are promoted as quitting aids, many experts argue they should meet the same regulatory standards as other medical treatments.

So, is vaping safer than cigarettes?

It’s difficult to answer definitively. Yes, vaping may expose users to fewer toxic chemicals, but less harmful doesn’t mean entirely harmless. E-cigarettes still deliver potentially dangerous substances into the lungs and bloodstream.

For adult smokers who are struggling to quit cigarettes, switching completely from cigarettes to regulated e-cigarettes may reduce exposure to certain toxins. However, dual use vaping while continuing to smoke, appears to increase health risks rather than reduce them.

For teenagers, young adults, and anyone who does not already smoke, the message is clearer: there is no health benefit to starting. Nicotine addiction can develop quickly, affecting brain development and increasing the likelihood of long-term dependency.

Health authorities such as the World Health Organization maintain that while e-cigarettes may have a role in tobacco harm reduction for some adult smokers, they are not risk-free and should not be marketed as a safe alternative.

Ultimately, the safest option for your lungs, heart, and brain is to avoid both cigarettes and vaping entirely. If you are trying to quit smoking, please speak to a healthcare professional about evidence-based cessation tools and support programmes. The sweet smell of vapour may feel like progress, but when it comes to long-term health, fewer toxins is not the same as no risk.

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