Since 2023, researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University have been conducting a world first study into the long-term effects of vaping.
And it’s finally about to come to an end in March after participants have been studied at the university’s Institute of Sport.
But while it’s still yet to conclude, the author has said he believes vaping is worse on people’s health than smoking cigarettes.
The NHS has previously described inhaling nicotine vapour from e-cigs as ‘substantially less harmful than smoking’
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And at the start of the study, Dr Maxime Boidin did believe that ‘vaping was more beneficial than smoking’.
However, as the Mirror had an early look at the study, the leader explained: "Smokers tend to go outside and smoke, and once a cigarette is finished they have to light up another to keep going. But with vapes, you just keep going and it’s much harder to know how many puffs you’ve had.
"It’s much easier to vape continuously because you can do it in places where smoking might be less acceptable."
In response to what he has found in the study, he claimed: “What we have found is the dangers for someone who keeps vaping are no different from smokers.”
During the process, participants aged between 18 to 45 (with an average of 27) with similar fitness levels were given regular stress tests.
Consuming only water and not vaping, smoking or exercising for 12 hours before, these tests would measure the elasticity of their blood vessels, which is a good indication of a person's vascular health, according to the university, and speed of blood flow to their brains.
It is said that smokers and vapers had a ‘flat reading’ which signalled damaged artery walls that can no longer violate, meaning they are at risk of severe cardiovascular problems in the future.
Dr Boidin believes the various damage is caused by inflammation from nicotine plus other metals and chemicals found in vapes such as propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine.
He said: “When you put this mixture of metals and chemicals into your body you can’t expect nothing to happen.” Boidin added that he believes vaping can be more dangerous because it’s harder to know when to stop.
The study is still yet to conclude for now, with results set to be officially released after it ends in March.
The NHS’ current stance is: “Nicotine vaping is not risk-free, but it is less harmful than smoking. It refers to 2022 findings when UK experts found that in ‘the short and medium-term, vaping poses a small fraction of the risks of smoking’.
Jess Battison