SUMMARY
"Vape is just as harmful to health as traditional cigarettes"
This is totally false. Why ?
Vaping was introduced in 2012, so we have more than 10 years' experience of this smoking cessation method. Numerous studies have been published over the years, including the study carried out in 2015 by Public Health England, a British public health body. Vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking. Professors Ann McNeill and Peter Hajek, who conducted the study, concluded: "Based on the evidence currently available, there is no doubt that smokers who switch to vaping significantly reduce their health risks".
"We don't know what e-liquid contains"
As you know, traditional cigarettes contain many substances that are hazardous to health (nearly 2,500 before combustion), such as tar, carbon monoxide and irritant gases, for example, which are not found in vaping.
As a reminder, a liquid is made up of 90% propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerine (VG) or vegetol, 3 to 10% flavourings (for taste) and 0 to 2% nicotine. Some liquids may also contain ethyl alcohol (0 to 5%) and demineralised water (0 to 5%) or additives in very small doses. If you have any doubts about the composition of a particular e-liquid, don't hesitate to consult our guide "E-liquids and nicotine: The Freevap guide to understand everything" or the safety data sheets (SDS) on each of our e-liquid and DIY concentrate product sheets.
What's more, in recent years our French neighbours have introduced certifications/standards for vaping products, such as Afnor certification (French standards association made up of health professionals, consumers and Fivape). This standard sets out the general safety, information and packaging requirements for e-liquid products. It also guarantees the absence of substances that could be considered dangerous.
There are other standards in force, such as ISO 9001, NF V 01-006 and HACCP certification.
- The ISO 9001 standard ensures that the manufacturing process is beyond reproach (environmental protection, HR, production, ingredients, etc.), which is a real guarantee of the quality of a liquid.
- The NF V 01-006 standard and HACCP certification: a standard that enables the "prevention, elimination or reduction to an acceptable level of any biological, physical, chemical or allergenic hazard".
In addition to these certifications, e-liquid manufacturers must provide the composition of their products several months in advance to 3 organizations: TPD, ANSES and INRS.
"Vaping makes you cough, that's proof that it's harmful to your health"
Many smokers who have tried electronic cigarettes will tell you. A coughing fit is often associated with the fact that electronic cigarettes are bad for your health and this is often a factor in stopping using electronic cigarettes altogether without even taking into account all their benefits.
In fact, it is possible that you will cough in the first few days and/or weeks, depending on your smoking profile. But why?
As explained above, conventional cigarettes contain a number of chemical substances, including ammonia and added anaesthetic agents. These irritants cause micro-lesions in the smoker's throat and lungs. This is a primary cause of coughing, which is not caused by your e-cig.
The second factor is that there is a difference between vaping and smoking. A smoker will tend to inhale short, intense puffs, whereas a vapourist will inhale soft, slow puffs. As smokers have already adopted smoking habits, it can be complicated for them to adapt to this new method at first, and this can lead to coughing.
The third factor is that combustion is a dry 'smoke' whereas vaping is a wet vapour. You have to understand that your larynx is used to something and when you 'discover' the world of vaping, it discovers new sensations... Who hasn't coughed at their first cigarette stolen from their parents' packet? To remedy this magnificent coughing fit when you first vapourise, we advise you to inhale slowly and for a long time while your larynx gets used to the change.
The final factor that can explain a coughing fit is the propylene glycol contained in a liquid. Propylene glycol has the property of promoting a hit with nicotine. Some people can't stand it. In these cases, vegetol is a good alternative to propylene glycol. If we can give you another piece of advice, hydrate very regularly when you start smoking (but also afterwards) to counteract this drying effect on the throat.
You can find out more about propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine and vegetol in the guide "How to choose the right PG VG ratio for a liquid".
"Vaping increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and pneumonia".
This misconception raises the question: is vaping dangerous for your health? What about nicotine?
As far as cardiovascular disease and infections are concerned, on the contrary, vape is an ally in the face of the scourge of traditional cigarettes.
You've probably already heard that electronic cigarettes are just as carcinogenic as traditional cigarettes. Nicotine contained in vaping products is not carcinogenic, but it is addictive. That's why if you don't smoke, don't vape.
Cigarette smoke is made up of tar, a mixture of hundreds of chemical substances created by the burning of tobacco. Most of these substances are carcinogenic, and new ones are added every year. Doctors agree that tobacco is one of the main causes of cancer. E-cigarettes, on the other hand, do not undergo combustion, so do not release chemical substances such as tar or carbon monoxide. As explained above, the liquids are subjected to laboratory tests to ensure that no substances are harmful to health.
Nicotine is not classified as a carcinogen. It can speed up the heart rate, but only very slightly, like caffeine for example. It is present in both cigarettes and vaping, but in inhaled doses it cannot be considered toxic. What's more, nicotine is present in tobacco in its natural state, as well as in certain vegetables!
The only 'danger' that nicotine can cause is when it is 'incorrectly dosed'. An overdose can lead to symptoms such as headaches, nausea or palpitations, while an underdose can lead to cravings and overconsumption of e-liquid and other consumables. That's why it's so important to choose the right nicotine level for your smoking profile before starting to give up smoking. If you'd like to find out more on this subject, take a look at our guide "Nicotine is your ally, choosing the right nicotine level".
"We don't have enough hindsight on vaping, and there are no serious studies on the subject"
This preconceived idea may be debatable. At present, there are serious studies on the subject conducted by health professionals. Most of them confirm that the electronic cigarette is an excellent means of smoking cessation and that it is an effective nicotine substitute.
As far as hindsight is concerned, it's true that the electronic cigarette is still in its infancy, having been recognised and popular for around ten years. So it's fair to express doubts and wonder what the long-term effects will be. Even if these have not been 100% proven, it's good to know that many vapers who have been vaping for several years have not reported any direct impact on their health, and the electronic cigarette is not the cause of a public health problem like tobacco. One thing's for sure: there are currently no studies to support the claim that electronic cigarettes have harmful effects on health.
We would also like to remind you that electronic cigarettes are not intended for non-smokers, and that even if it is better not to inhale anything, they remain an effective means of combating smoking.
"Vaping can affect the people around me"
This common misconception is wrong. Why is this?
Unlike passive smoking, there is no such thing as passive vaping. This is because vapour contains no nicotine compared with cigarette smoke. So we are not exposing those around us to any risk whatsoever.
We strongly advise you to keep your vaping equipment out of the reach of children. However, a standard has been introduced (ISO 8317) for e-liquids, proving that the resealable packaging is resistant to opening by children. It's a reassuring standard, despite the need for vigilance in this area.
"Vaping equipment is dangerous and can explode at any time!"
This common misconception is wrong. Why is this?
To put things in context, it's not the electronic cigarette that's dangerous, but its battery and/or the battery pack contained in certain vapes, just like the battery in your computer or smartphone, for example. Almost all the 'explosions' recorded are due to incorrect use of the equipment and/or bad practices such as leaving the battery in direct sunlight, for example, or carrying the battery in your pocket without a protective box or specific storage.
You've probably already heard about dramatic explosions in the media that have resulted in injuries or other forms of abuse, for the reasons we've just explained.
If you'd like to find out more about the conditions under which batteries are transported and/or the best practices to adopt for your batteries, you can consult our product sheets or our guides "Everything you need to know about batteries and removable refills" and "Electronic cigarettes abroad and air travel".
"Vaping is cheaper than smoking"
This preconceived idea is totally true! On average, an average smoker will spend between CHF 130 and 150 on packets of cigarettes, compared with an average budget of CHF 20 to 100 per month for a vaper.
To go into more detail and illustrate our point, here are a few examples:
The average number of cigarettes smoked per day by an average smoker in Switzerland is 10 cigarettes, or 1 packet every two days (reference price: CHF 8.8). For one month, the average smoker's budget would therefore be CHF 132, more for the heaviest smokers.
As far as vaping is concerned, let's assume that a vaper has already bought an electronic cigarette kit and wants to stock up regularly on eliquids (CHF 5.9 on average for a 10 ml format) and coils (CHF 13.5 on average), knowing that a 10 ml will last 4 days and a coil 2 weeks (pack of 3 to 5 units). The average budget for the average vaper would therefore be around CHF 50, a saving of CHF 82 compared with conventional cigarettes!
"Vape encourages young people to smoke"
Firstly, we would like to remind you that it is forbidden to sell e-cigarettes to minors (under the age of 18).
According to several studies carried out in 2017 and 2020, there is no "bridging effect" between electronic cigarettes and traditional cigarettes.
According to INSERM (a study carried out in France):
- 81% of teenagers who have tried vaping are not daily smokers at the age of 18
- 43% of French 17- to 18-year-olds who have tried vaping have never smoked cigarettes
- 42% reduction in the risk of being a smoker at 18 for those who tried vape before cigarettes
At Freevap, we take great care to ensure that our customers are over the legal age of majority by prohibiting minors from registering for an account or accessing the website. If in doubt, we reserve the right to ask for proof of majority. We also mention on every page of our website that vaping and/or the consumption of puffs, e-liquids or any form of vaping products containing or not containing nicotine is formally forbidden to people under the age of 18.