FDA researchers said that the harm of e-cigarettes can be reduced by up to 95%. The harm reduction of e-cigarettes has been confirmed by authoritative public health agencies again.

Recently, researchers from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), one of the most authoritative public health institutions in the world, published a research paper in 《Tobacco Control》, pointing out that e-cigarettes are less harmful than cigarettes and have certain harm reduction. When smokers switch to e-cigarettes, the level of biomarkers of various carcinogens (such as benzene, 1,3-butadiene, acrolein, etc.) in their urine will decrease, up to 95%.

Picture: the paper was published in《Tobacco Control》

As early as 2015, the British Ministry of public health determined that e-cigarettes can reduce harm. The reason is very clear: 69 carcinogens will be produced in the process of tobacco combustion. E-cigarettes do not contain tobacco and have no combustion process. Therefore, 95% of the harm of cigarettes can be reduced. However when it comes to certain carcinogens, such as tobacco specific nitrosamines and benzene, can e-cigarettes reduce their harm and to what extent?
Authorized by the U.S. Congress, FDA is the highest law enforcement agency specialized in food and drug management in the United States. The researchers searched and screened more than 5000 relevant studies worldwide from August 2013 to February 2021, and reached the following two main conclusions:

1）E-cigarette is less harmful than cigarette

The research subjects were divided into two groups: e-cigarette users and cigarette smokers. The data show that the content of carcinogens inhaled by e-cigarette users is generally less than that inhaled by cigarette smokers.

For example, benzene, a carcinogen related to leukemia (the metabolite is S-PMA), studies have shown that the level of S-PMA in the urine of e-cigarette users is significantly lower than that of cigarette smokers, and there is no significant difference with non-smokers.

2）E-cigarette has the effect of reducing harm, smokers can choose to use e-cigarette instead

Since e-cigarettes are less harmful, can smokers use e-cigarettes to improve their health? FDA researchers conducted relevant investigations. The data showed that after smokers switched to e-cigarettes, the level of biomarkers of harmful substances inhaled decreased significantly: the level of biomarkers of benzene, a class of carcinogen in urine, decreased by 87%-94%. The first class carcinogen 1,3-butadiene decreased by 55%-95%, the second class carcinogen acrolein decreased by 70.5%-91%, and the second class carcinogen acrylonitrile decreased by 78%-94%.

In addition, after smokers switch to e-cigarettes, the level of biomarkers of carcinogens such as acrylamide, ethylene oxide and vinyl chloride in urine will also be reduced. Some of these carcinogens are related to heart disease and lung disease, and some are irritants of eyes, respiratory tract, liver, kidney, skin or central nervous system. Long term inhalation is very harmful to health.

"More and more smokers are switching to e-cigarettes. I hope our research results can provide effective information for scientific research, clinical practice and health policy." Marzena hiler, a member of the FDA tobacco products center and one of the main authors of the reserach paper, said.