The NHS has a page answering common questions about vaping, aimed at clearing up conflicting information. A few points from it:
- Regulation: in the UK, every nicotine vaping product must be notified to the MHRA (the medicines regulator), with a full list of ingredients, before it can be sold.
- “Popcorn lung”: the NHS says vaping doesn’t cause it. Diacetyl, the chemical linked to the condition, is banned as an ingredient in UK-regulated e-liquids.
- Second-hand vapour: the NHS says there is “no evidence so far” that it harms people nearby. It still advises not vaping around babies and children where you can avoid it, and being considerate around people with conditions such as asthma.
- Not risk-free: the NHS is clear that vaping “is not completely harmless” and that its long-term effects aren’t yet known. Non-smokers and anyone aged 17 or under should never vape.
The NHS page also covers how vaping compares with smoking. Read the full NHS page