If you smoke, vaping ‘IS much less risky’ but if you don’t smoke, don’t vape, experts warn

SIX in 10 smokers wrongly believe vaping is just as bad for them, a study found.

Polls of 28,000 Brits revealed we are becoming less trustful of e-cigarettes.

GettyExperts say vaping is not risk-free but is safer than smoking because there is no tar[/caption]

Only 27 per cent of tobacco smokers thought switching would be healthier.

Meanwhile 34 per cent said it is just as dangerous and 23 per cent said it was worse.

Health chiefs say vaping is not risk-free but it is much healthier because it involves no smoke or tar, which both cause cancer.

An estimated 65,000 cancer cases every year – one in five – are linked to fags.

Dr Sarah Jackson, of University College London, said: “The risks of vaping are much lower than the risks of smoking and this isn’t being clearly communicated to people.

“This misperception is a health risk because it may discourage smokers from substantially reducing their harm by switching to e-cigarettes. 

“It may also encourage young people who use e-cigarettes to take up smoking if they believe they are comparable.

“Better communication is needed.”

UK smokers becoming less trustful of vapes over time

Research suggests e-cigarettes are one of the best ways for smokers to quit.

Ministers plan to tax vapes and ban jazzy flavours and packets to put children off, but are under pressure to keep them available for tobacco addicts.

The study, in the journal Jama Network Open, found vapes have gone down in Brits’ estimations in the past 10 years.

In 2014, 44 per cent believed e-cigarettes were less harmful than smoking – but this nearly halved while the proportion who said they were worse doubled from 11 per cent.

Prof Jamie Brown, from UCL, added: “The Government plans to offer one million smokers a free vaping starter kit to help them quit.

“This initiative may be undermined if many smokers are unwilling to try e-cigarettes because they wrongly believe them to be as harmful as cigarettes.”