During an interview with UK radio station Triple M, Mendelsohn reiterated that electronic cigarettes are significantly less harmful than traditional cigarettes. As a leading advocate for e-cigarettes as a tool to reduce the harm caused by smoking, he is also a scholar who specializes in tobacco research.
During the interview, Mendelsohn answered directly, stating that "E-cigarettes are not harmless, but there is an overwhelming scientific consensus that their harm is far lower than smoking. We must confront it because it is basically a smoking substitute for adult smokers who cannot quit smoking. Almost all the harm caused by smoking comes from the 7,000 chemicals produced from burning tobacco. When you use an e-cigarette, you are simply heating a liquid in an aerosol, and almost none of these chemicals are present. Therefore, proving that it is safer than smoking is actually child's play.
The reporter asked him whether vaping was a pathway to tobacco consumption. In response, Mendersen had no doubt and said: "On the contrary, we are actually seeing a reversal of smoking. The gateway theory has been present in cannabis and other drugs, but it has been repeatedly refuted.
We have observed that in countries where e-cigarettes are allowed, including among young people, smoking rates are declining at a faster pace than ever before. We have seen this in the United Kingdom, United States, and New Zealand. On the other hand, with the emergence of e-cigarettes, we are witnessing a completely opposite situation: e-cigarettes are diverting children's attention from smoking. The interviewer will then be faced with risks related to the use of electronic devices and nicotine consumption.
Mendelson's response once again demonstrated his abilities and objectivity. He stated that the risk of battery malfunction is extremely rare, and in the worst-case scenario, it could lead to a fire. However, there have been very few verified cases of this happening, primarily due to user negligence. Nicotine poisoning also carries a rare risk, but only if one is intoxicated. Symptoms may include coughing, dry mouth, and nausea, but severe harmful effects are infrequent.
Over the past 15 years, electronic cigarettes have not been linked to a single death while approximately 8 million people die annually from smoking worldwide. In fact, due to their 15 year existence, there are millions of pages of analysis, research, and comparisons available to the scientific community. This means that policymakers and health officials have a wealth of information to draw upon when developing anti-smoking prevention policies.
Yes," summarised Mendelson, "these products quietly entered the market in 2006. So, we have gained a lot of experience since then. Currently, there are 82 million electronic cigarette consumers worldwide. Studies have shown that when smokers make the switch, it improves their breathing, reduces the risk of asthma, emphysema and high blood pressure, lowers the risk of heart disease, and improves smoking-related gum disease.
However, there is a bottom line to consider: if you are not a smoker, you should not use e-cigarettes. However, if you are a smoker, e-cigarettes may be the most effective smoking cessation alternative available to us. It is unfortunate that the e-cigarette industry has been penalized due to exaggerated concerns about its spread among young people.
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