“Vaping is completely safe.”

No. Vaping is far less harmful than smoking — but it isn’t harmless, and it’s not for people who don’t smoke.

The evidence

We’d be no better than the scaremongers if we pretended otherwise. Misinformation runs in both directions.

Metals can leach from heating coils: in one study, nickel and chromium in many users’ vapour exceeded health reference limits — higher than from cigarettes, for those two metals.42 Nicotine liquid can poison small children, which is why child-resistant packaging matters.43 Batteries occasionally fail.44 And nobody has 40-year data yet.21

New Zealand’s official position puts it well: “For people who smoke, vaping is less harmful but not harmless.”27

Questions about your own situation? The AI helper answers from this site.

Why this site exists

Nicotine hooked me. Smoke nearly killed me. Vapour gave me my breath back.

Read my story →