Health effects of electronic cigarettes

The health effects of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are less harmful than those of smoking, but worse than not smoking at all. However, health effects are a function of inhaled materials, of associated behavior changes (notably traditional cigarette smoking), of how and how often the products are used, over what period, manufacturing/distribution quality control, marketing, the regulatory environment, and the actual user population.

A 2025 US study that analyzed data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS), the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), and the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) concluded that e-cigarettes had preserved 677,000 life–years from 2011 to 2019. A 2025 review of 39 studies found "no significant incident or prevalent risk" of cancer from vaping.

The public health community is divided over the use of these devices to reduce/prevent smoking. As of 2017 they were not approved by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a smoking cessation product, and in 2020 became regulated as a tobacco product (despite not containing tobacco). However, a 2019 study reported that 10% of participants given nicotine via gum, mouth spray, patches, etc., quit smoking, while 18% of those given vaping kits quit. Among participants still smoking, vapers smoked less. A 2021 review by Public Health England (PHE) reported vaping to be around 95% less harmful than smoking.

E-cigarette use (vaping) carries some level of health risks. Reported risks (compared to not smoking) include exposure to toxic chemicals, increased likelihood of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, accelerated cancer development, reduced lung function, reduced cardiac muscle function, increased inflammation, increased drug dependency, and damage to the central nervous system. Misuse, accidents, and product malfunction issues increase risks such as nicotine poisoning, contact with liquid nicotine, and fires.