A documentary about vaping is on BBC Three tonight, where the host will question the habit once deemed safer than smoking.
Jordan North: The Truth About Vaping follows the radio DJ and television presenter as he investigates what is inside vapes.
Vaping is inhaling and exhaling vapour an electronic cigarette or similar device produces.
“I started vaping a few years ago, like many people, to help me cut back on cigarettes,” North, 34, said.
“I've tried so many times to quit and I found that switching to vapes really helped me cut down on my smoking, but then it was getting to the stage where I was vaping way more in a day than I was smoking the cigs [sic], and I thought to myself, 'Am I just replacing one bad habit for another?’.
“Then I started to hear some horror stories in the news so I really wanted to get to the bottom of the effects of vaping on my health and what's actually inside these little plastic things we stick in our mouths.
“I have a few friends who have never smoked before but now vape and say they are addicted, that’s something that started to concern me too.”
He wanted to participate in the documentary to uncover the truth about vapes’ health repercussions.
“I had no idea what was even inside the vapes I use, or whether it was bad for me,” North said.
"Making the documentary gave me the chance to speak to some interesting people and find all that out.”
Later in the programme, Jordan joins Newcastle Trading Standards as they conduct raids on shops selling illegal vapes.
Jordan North: The Truth About Vaping airs on BBC Three at 9pm and is available on BBC iPlayer now.
Last year, illegal vapes confiscated from school pupils were reportedly found to contain high levels of chemicals found in cigarette smoke.
Baxter College in Kidderminster took away e-cigarettes, where laboratory test results revealed harmful lead, nickel, and chromium levels.
World Health Organisation guidance says lead exposure can affect the central nervous system’s and brain’s development.
The Government has advertised vapes as a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes under the “swap to stop” scheme.
Ministers previously announced that vape starter kits would be offered to almost one in five smokers in England.
So, how does vaping compare to smoking and what are the risks of both?
What are the health impacts of smoking?
Smoking accounts for seven in 10 cases of lung cancer, according to the NHS. It also causes several other cancers, including those of the mouth, throat, kidney, and liver.
Smoking can also increase your risk of developing conditions such as coronary heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It also increases your risk of having a heart attack and stroke.
Furthermore, smoking can also worsen conditions such as asthma and affect fertility in both men and women.
About 76,000 people in the UK die from smoking every year — and many more live with smoking-related illnesses.
What are the health impacts of vaping?
Vapes are “far less harmful than cigarettes”, the NHS says.
But it adds: “They are not recommended for non-smokers and cannot be sold to people under 18 years old.”
Vaping can lead to respiratory problems such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. It has also been linked to lung inflammation and damage, including conditions such as popcorn lung (bronchiolitis obliterans).
Some studies suggest that vaping may increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Many e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can lead to dependence.
Since vaping is a relatively new phenomenon, the long-term health effects are still not fully understood. However, experts believe vaping poses a smaller health risk than smoking cigarettes.
Vaping is less harmful because vapes do not produce tar or carbon monoxide and produce a lower level of harmful chemicals.
Additionally, it’s unclear if vaping affects those around you, whereas passive smoking can be harmful.
