A 6-month study conducted by Philip Morris International (PMI) has found that e-cigarette vapours cause significantly lower biological responses linked to cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases compared with cigarette smoke, according to a company press release.

The study examined the impact of e-cigarette vapour, both with and without nicotine and flavour, on the risks of respiratory and cardiovascular disease in a mouse model. The study, which took place over a 6-month period, looked at the biological response of mice to e-cigarette vapour exposure compared with cigarette smoke exposure. According to the company, “Female ApoE-/- mice were exposed to air, cigarette smoke, or 3 formulations of e-cigarette vapours for 3 hours/day, 5 days/week for 6 months via a whole-body inhalation system.”
The study found that the mice exposed to e-cigarette vapours had lower levels of lung inflammation, structural damage and molecular changes in the lungs and caused lower atherosclerotic plaque formation and molecular changes in aorta and heart tissue compared to cigarette smoke.
PMI’s Director of Systems Toxicology, Dr Julia Hoeng, commented on the results, saying, “These results are a powerful addition to the evidence showing that switching to e-cigarettes is a much better choice than continuing to smoke.
“This study truly is a landmark study, not just demonstrating the reduced toxicity and disease risk between e-cigarettes and cigarettes but also evaluating the role of nicotine and flavours.”
The study, which was conducted in collaboration with Altria Group, Inc., was presented at the 58th Annual Society of Toxicology Meeting in Baltimore. According to PMI’s press release, the full results of the study will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.