"This study is the first to assert that there is likely an increased cancer risk for people who vape, compared to people who do not vape. This information is particularly important for young people who have never smoked. Vaping is not a safe alternative to smoking for nonsmokers. Equally, however, for any person who has successfully given up smoking by using vapes, this new research does not in any way suggest going back to smoking. Smoking is uniquely harmful, killing two out of three people who continue to smoke. The results of this paper reinforce that Australian laws that limit vapes to pharmacy-only access for people who are using them to quit smoking are the right approach. Preventing young people from accessing vaping products, while also providing a tightly regulated channel for those using them to quit smoking, is a balance. Prioritising the enforcement of these laws, alongside education campaigns about the harms of vaping, plus support to quit vaping, is essential. "

"The finding that e-cigarettes are likely to be carcinogenic is not at all surprising. Public health advocates have been saying for years that the products contain carcinogenic chemicals, so it was only a matter of time before this evidence emerged. What saddens me is the deliberate targeting of children and young people with these products. The tobacco and nicotine industry need to addict a new generation to nicotine to safeguard their profits, and this evidence shows they are very likely giving our children cancer in the process. Governments in Australia must act immediately to shut down retailers who are selling these cancer-causing products."

"Vaping was initially promoted as a safer alternative for adult smokers, but the long-term health effects of vaping products are still unknown. Growing evidence suggests that these products are not harmless. Cancer, similar to any chronic disease, has a long gap between exposure and symptom appearance. Tobacco is a known risk factor for cancer, whereas vaping is a new tobacco product (invented in 2003) for which the association with cancer has not yet been widely established. However, there is recent emerging evidence, as outlined in this review, that indicates an association with a few cancers, like lung cancer, oral cancer, bladder cancer, etc. This study has nicely synthesised all the previous evidence of the presence of carcinogenic compounds in vaping and relevant carcinogenicity, based on animal studies, case reports and laboratory tests. Many of the vaping product users are dual users of vaping and cigarette smoking, but this review has clearly indicated that vaping by itself can cause cancer.

With the strict regulation of vaping products by the Australian Government, the prevalence of vaping has gone down in recent times, specifically among adolescents. Awareness of the harmful impacts of vaping has also increased through the continued efforts of health promotion organisations and personnel. However, it’s still important to embed such awareness into the curriculum at school, and also to focus on disadvantaged cohorts like adolescents in regional and remote settings. In addition, the capacity of primary healthcare providers needs to be strengthened to provide advice and cessation support to adolescents."