Government to monitor 100,000 young people over 10 years to study long-term effects of vaping
The government launching a landmark study into the long-term effects of vaping and for that they're going to need a lot of people and a lot of time.
100,000 people and 10 years to be precise, as a £62 million study funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will track a cohort of Brits aged between eight and 18 for the decade.
The study will collect a decade's worth of data on their behaviour and biology to understand more about their wellbeing, including the actual impact vaping will have on young children.
Vaping is recognised as being less harmful than smoking but it still carries health risks and is packed full of addictive nicotine which can have a pronounced effect on the developing brains of children.
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While vaping is recognised as a potential way to help smokers quit cigarettes, health advice for non-smokers and children is to never do it.
There has been a significant uptick in younger generations taking it up as a habit in recent years, as youth vaping has doubled in the past five years and around a quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds have tried it, while the full impact it has on their health is not known.
The government is currently working on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which is aimed towards cracking down on smoking, including a ban on those born from 1 January, 2009 onwards from buying tobacco products.
The bill also aims to tackle youth vaping by cracking down on vapes being advertised, banning vape vending machines and letting the government regulate how vapes are packaged.
As for the study of 100,000 people over 10 years, it's one of three major pieces of research the government is conducting as they seek to know more about us and the things we do.
Ashley Dalton, minister for public health and prevention, said: "We know that vaping can be a useful tool to quit smoking, but it’s crucial we have clear evidence on the long-term health harms, especially for young people.
"This landmark series of studies, combined with our first nationwide youth vaping campaign, will help drive evidence-based, decisive action to protect our children's future."
Asthma + Lung UK chief Sarah Sleet said the amount of non-smokers and children getting into vaping was 'extremely worrying'.
She said: "The long-term impact of vaping on the lungs isn’t yet known, so research into its effect on young people, is really important.
“It is already known that vaping can cause inflammation in the airways, and people with asthma have told us that vapes can trigger their condition.
"Vaping could put developing lungs at risk, while exposure to nicotine – also contained in vapes – can damage developing brains. This is why young people should be stopped from taking up vaping in the first place."
Meanwhile, Professor Lucy Chappell said it was 'crucial that we develop a solid evidence base to better understand its health impacts', adding: "By investing in important research such as this we give young people, parents, and policymakers the knowledge they need to make informed decisions and safeguard long-term health."
Joe Harker