Is vaping safer than smoking, and how many non-smokers vape?

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1. 1

   One million UK people who have never smoked are now vaping

   BBC NewsPublished Oct 6, 2026Checked Oct 10, 2026

   “Latest statistics also show, for the second year in a row, more over-16s vape than smoke.”

2. 2

   Prevalence and correlates of e-cigarette use among older adults aged 60 years and over.

   European geriatric medicine (Adebisi et al.)Published Jun 29, 2026Checked Oct 10, 2026

   “Prevalence remained broadly stable across survey years, ranging from 2.16% (95% CI: 1.43-3.25) in 2021 to 5.55% (95% CI: 4.43-6.93) in 2023. E-cigarette use was overwhelmingly concentrated among those with a smoking history: current smokers (adjusted OR 18.78, 95% CI: 11.79-29.92, p ConclusionsE-cigarette use among Scottish older adults was low but non-trivial and was strongly patterned by smoking history. The concentration of use among current and former smokers suggests that e-cigarette use in this age group occurs mainly among people with prior exposure to combustible tobacco, although the cross-sectional design cannot determine whether use reflects cessation, substitution, experimentation, or persistent dual use. The steep age gradient, deprivation patterning, and association with poorer self-rated health highlight the need for age-sensitive clinical counselling and balanced risk communication in older adults.”

3. 3

   Motives and Risk Perceptions Among Young Adults Engaged in Frequent Vaping and Dual Cannabis Use: Implications for Prevention and Intervention.

   Journal of psychoactive drugs (Cavazos-Rehg et al.)Published Sep 10, 2026Checked Oct 10, 2026

   “In this study, social media was used to recruit 97 young adults aged 15-25 who reported vaping in the past month. Participants completed an online survey assessing vaping behaviors, perceived risks of vaping, and interest in treatment. Descriptive statistics and differences between participants vaping nicotine only and those vaping nicotine and cannabis (dual use) are reported. Vaping was found to be frequent and consistent among all participants, reported on average 25 of the past 30 days. Half of participants reported vaping nicotine only (n = 48, 49.5%) and half reported dual use (n = 49, 50.5%). Participants vaping nicotine only were more likely to perceive vaping as less harmful than smoking (65.9% vs 39.6%; p = .01) and were less likely to report concerns about the negative health consequences of nicotine vaping (Mean (SD): 6.6(2.5) vs 7.7(1.3); p = .01). Two thirds of participants reported interest in quitting, however less than 5% reported receiving treatment. These findings underscore the diverse motives and risk perceptions that shape frequent and dual vaping behaviors and can inform tailored treatment efforts.”

4. 4

   Electronic cigarette (Wikipedia)

   WikipediaPublished Oct 5, 2026Checked Oct 10, 2026

   “An electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or vape is a device that simulates tobacco smoking. It consists of an atomizer, a power source such as a battery, and a container such as a cartridge or tank. Instead of smoke, the user inhales vapor, often called "vaping". The atomizer is a heating element that vaporizes a liquid solution called e-liquid that cools into an aerosol of tiny droplets, vapor and air. The vapor mainly comprises propylene glycol or glycerin, usually with nicotine and flavoring. Its exact composition varies, and depends on matters such as user behavior. E-cigarettes are activated by taking a puff or pressing a button. Some look like traditional cigarettes, and most kinds are reusable. Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but still has health risks, particularly for those with asthma. Limited evidence indicates that e-cigarettes are less addictive than smoking, with slower nicotine absorption rates. E-cigarettes containing nicotine are more effective than nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation, but have not been tested as rigorously as nicotine replacement therapy products.”

5. 5

   Cigarette smoking, e-cigarette use, and hypertension: a population-based cross-sectional study.

   Journal of human hypertension (Adebisi et al.)Published Jun 4, 2026Checked Oct 10, 2026

   “Multivariable logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Secondary analyses disaggregated current e-cigarette use only by smoking history, and propensity score matching was performed as a sensitivity analysis. Overall hypertension prevalence was 26.5%, ranging from 19.0% among current exclusive e-cigarette users to 33.5% among former smokers. Compared with never users, current e-cigarette use only was associated with lower odds of hypertension (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.63-0.93), whereas former smokers had higher odds (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02-1.20). No significant associations were observed for current cigarette smoking only (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.84-1.06) or current dual use (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.75-1.20). The inverse association for exclusive e-cigarette use was confined to former smokers who had switched to vaping (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.63-0.94). In propensity score-matched analyses, the inverse association for current exclusive e-cigarette use was attenuated and no longer statistically significant, suggesting that this finding may partly reflect healthy switcher bias and residual confounding rather than a protective effect.”

6. 6

   E-cigarettes and periodontal health: current evidence and research gaps.

   Brazilian oral research (Pannuti et al.)Published Aug 21, 2026Checked Oct 10, 2026

   “Cross-sectional studies generally reported poorer periodontal conditions among EC users compared with never-smokers, including higher plaque index and periodontal probing depth, although results for CAL and alveolar bone loss were inconsistent. Comparisons between EC users and cigarette smokers often showed more favorable clinical parameters among EC users. Longitudinal evidence continued to be limited. The only prospective cohort study reported higher CAL among EC users than never-smokers and observed an increase in CAL over time exclusively in EC users. Interventional studies assessing response to periodontal therapy have yielded inconsistent results, with some suggesting a poorer treatment response among EC users and others finding no significant differences. Overall, there were Well-designed longitudinal studies with clearly defined exposure groups, standardized periodontal outcomes, and longer follow-up are needed to clarify whether EC use independently contributes to periodontal deterioration.”