September 29, 2022

Nicotine vaping in England: an evidence update including health risks and perceptions

A new systematic review of the evidence on the health risks of nicotine vaping has been produced by scientists at King’s College London. 

The research specifically examines biomarkers of toxicant exposure (potentially harmful substance levels in the body) and of potential harm (biological changes in the body due to an exposure).  It also looks at trends in vaping/smoking in the UK population, the evidence around flavours, and attitudes/beliefs about harms from vaping and smoking. 

This is the eighth in a series of independent reports on vaping originally commissioned by PHE (and now by OHID, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities in DHSC), and is the most comprehensive to date.

Journalists came to this briefing to hear from the lead authors of the report.

Speakers included:

Prof Ann McNeill, Professor of Tobacco Addiction, National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London

Dr Debbie Robson, Senior Lecturer in Tobacco Harm Reduction, National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London

Dr Leonie Brose, Reader in Addiction Education and Nicotine Research, National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London

Dr Erikas Simonavičius, Research Associate, National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London

Martin Dockrell, Tobacco Control Lead, Office of Health Improvement and Disparities, Department of Health and Social Care

This Briefing was accompanied by an SMC Roundup of Comments.