Vaping vs tobacco according to the evidence
An evidence-led look at combustible cigarettes vs e-cigarettes: smoke vs aerosol, toxicant exposure and what major health agencies say.
Key facts
- • Cigarettes produce smoke through combustion; e-cigarettes generate aerosol by heating e-liquid.
- • Combustion releases tar and a wide range of toxicants not produced by vaping.
- • Vaping is not risk-free; long-term effects are still being studied.
How these categories differ
A cigarette burns tobacco at ~900°C, producing smoke that contains tar and thousands of combustion compounds, including dozens of established carcinogens. An e-cigarette heats a liquid (propylene glycol, glycerin, flavourings, usually nicotine) to ~200–250°C, producing an aerosol — no tobacco, no combustion, far fewer and generally lower-level toxicants.
Relevant study results
- Public Health England review (updated)Vaping is estimated to be around 95% less harmful than smoking for adult smokers who switch completely.
- Cochrane Review 2024 — e-cigarettes for smoking cessationHigh-certainty evidence that nicotine e-cigarettes help more adults quit smoking than nicotine-replacement therapy.