The world’s first controlled study into the long-term effects of vaping has found that e-cigs are so harmful that the restrictions on their sales should go much further, and cover refillable vapes too

As the UK government’s ban on single-use vapes takes effect, new research is raising serious questions about their safety. A study warns that e-cigarettes could be as harmful to long-term health as traditional cigarettes, potentially even more so due to usage patterns.

The ban on disposable vapes comes in response to growing worries over increasing teen vaping rates. From today (June 1), it will be unlawful for businesses in the UK to sell or supply these vapes, whether they contain nicotine or not, encompassing both physical and online sales.

However, leading cardiac rehabilitation specialist Dr Maxime Boidin, who led the world’s first controlled study into the long-term effects of vaping, argues that e-cigarettes are so detrimental that restrictions should extend to refillable vapes as well.

Dr Boidin’s research already indicates that vaping carries similar health risks as smoking traditional cigarettes. It increases the likelihood of dementia, heart disease, and organ failure for long-term users, reports the Mirror.

He further suggests that the damage from vaping could be even worse due to the difficulty in controlling its use.

He warns: “Smokers tend to go outside and smoke, and once a cigarette is finished they have to light up another to keep going. But with vapes, you just keep going and it’s much harder to know how many puffs you’ve had. It’s much easier to vape continuously because you can do it in places where smoking might be less acceptable.”

While the NHS has previously stated that vaping is “substantially less harmful than smoking” and is seen as a safer alternative for quitting smoking, Dr Boidin’s research could potentially alter current health guidelines and prompt further demands for stricter regulations, including making vapes available only via prescription.

Dr Boidin’s studies, which involve monitoring the health of various volunteer groups, revealed alarming results showing that both vapers and smokers experience comparable arterial damage – an indicator of potential cardiovascular issues due to artery constriction, which hampers blood flow to essential organs.

Speaking to the Mirror, Dr Boidin expressed his support for the imminent ban on disposable vapes, considering it a positive move towards reducing teenage access to vapes and mitigating environmental harm.

He commented: “These products primarily target younger individuals, whereas older adults tend to use refillable options. From a health perspective, the ban should reduce access among the younger population, as refillable vapes are generally more expensive and less accessible.

“From an environmental standpoint, we frequently see single-use vapes – and their packaging – littering pavements.. In the end, the ban is a step in the right direction, but it represents only a small part of the broader educational and cultural change that’s needed.”

Researchers at the university’s Institute of Sport conducted a study where participants, aged 18-45 with an average age of 27 and similar fitness levels, underwent regular stress tests. These tests measured the elasticity of their blood vessels and the speed of blood flow to their brains.

The results showed that smokers and vapers had damaged artery walls that could no longer dilate, indicating a high risk of future cardiovascular problems. Further tests revealed that smokers and vapers also had impaired blood flow, putting them at risk of cognitive dysfunction, including dementia.

Dr Boidin warned: “When you put this mixture of metals and chemicals into your body you can’t expect nothing to happen. What we have found is the dangers for someone who keeps vaping are no different from smokers.”

“At the beginning (of the study) I also believed that vaping was more beneficial than smoking. You see a lot more people vaping these days because they don’t think it’s too bad. Many will be horrified to know the truth.”

Vaping in Britain has surged dramatically since electronic cigarettes first landed on our shores in 2005. Presently, there are an estimated 5.1 million Britons aged 16 and above indulging in vaping, based on last year’s statistics from the Office for National Statistics.