Study Claims Vaping Has Less Genetic Impact Than Smoking

The science keeps rolling in, and as is usually the case when done without bias, evidence piles up in favor of vaping.

This episode, we're going to look at a new study that examines gene expression. To grossly oversimplify an incredibly complex topic, let's say that means "the process where a gene is used to produce the biochemical compounds that make up all life."

so wI know, still a bit complex – basically your genes can be affected by various environmental factors, including the chemical compounds in vapor and cigarette smoke.

So what did scientists learn now? When lung tissue was exposed to both smoke and vapor, some genes suffered altered production levels. But the level of lung harm experienced by the two wasn't even close – 123 genes were affected by the tobacco smoke, as compared to just two (yes, 2) altered by e-cigarette vapor.

It's theorized that these may be genes affected by nicotine, a compound present in many e-liquids and all forms of tobacco – but, as coverage of the issue notes, it's not the addictive nature of nicotine that harms tobacco users, it's the tobacco itself.

We can only hope that as the cards continue to fall in favor of vaping as a dramatic tool for harm reduction for both tobacco users and those exposed to them, scaremongers within US government bodies and advisory agencies will begin to take note…