The Public Health England (PHE) reported what it described as a “landmark review” of evidence about e-cigarettes. The headline in their press release quoted their top-line finding—“E-cigarettes around 95% less harmful than tobacco”. Kevin Fenton, Director of Health and Wellbeing at PHE, commented that, “E-cigarettes are not completely risk free but when compared to smoking, evidence shows they carry just a fraction of the harm”. Indeed, the 95% figure was widely picked up in news media. The BBC, for example, reported with certainty that “E-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than tobacco”. So what was the allegedly “game-changing” evidence that e-cigarettes are so safe? (Editorial)
Original Source [2]
Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/feature-article/e-cigarettes-public-health-england%E2%80%99s-evidence-based-confusion
[2] http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(15)00042-2/fulltext
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/journal/lancet
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/smoking
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/tobacco
[6] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/health-effects
[7] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/united-kingdom-uk
[8] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/research