ANSES Report Highlights Health Risks of Vaping While Confirming Tobacco's Greater Harm

The French health agency ANSES recently released its first comprehensive study on the health impacts of electronic cigarettes, revealing notable potential risks associated with vaping. According to the report, which is based on three years of analysis of nearly 3,000 scientific articles, vaping is linked to probable cardiovascular and respiratory effects and possible carcinogenic changes, although tobacco remains significantly more harmful.

ANSES identified cardiovascular risks primarily related to nicotine, such as increased blood pressure; however, these effects are reversible and have not yet been conclusively connected to chronic conditions like hypertension or coronary heart disease. Respiratory concerns include effects on the airways, with associations to chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and lung inflammations. Importantly, some studies pointed to biological alterations indicative of early carcinogenic processes, though definitive proof of electronic cigarettes causing cancer has not been established.

The agency highlighted that about 6% of French adults currently use vaping products, and while health risks exist at medium and long terms, vaping may aid smoking cessation. The findings serve as a cautious advisory rather than a definitive condemnation of e-cigarettes.

This report comes in a context where the vaping tax was recently removed from the 2026 budget, reflecting ongoing debates on regulation. ANSES's cautious stance balances acknowledging vaping's potential as a harm reduction tool with recognizing emerging health concerns, underscoring the need for continued research and monitoring.

In summary, ANSES's study signals that although electronic cigarettes present several possible health risks, especially cardiovascular and respiratory, they are considerably less harmful than traditional tobacco products. The agency calls for awareness of these risks amid vaping's role in smoking cessation strategies and public health policies.