Nicotine without smoke—putting electronic cigarettes in context

Abstract

Smoking is the biggest avoidable cause of death, disability, and health inequalities in the UK The hazard to health arising from long term use of e-cigarettes is unlikely to exceed 5% of the harm from smoking tobacco Experience in the UK suggests that e-cigarettes are more popular with smokers than other non-tobacco nicotine products and are being used almost entirely by smokers who want to cut down or quit smoking E-cigarettes represent an important means to reduce the harm to individuals and society from tobacco use E-cigarettes should continue to be supported by government and promoted as a tobacco harm reduction strategy