Introduction
Vaping has often been billed as a safer alternative to smoking. But a recent study by Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) challenges that view. The research compared vaping, smoking, and non‑use among young adults — and found vaping may be nearly as harmful as smoking. In this article, we unpack what the MMU vaping study found, why it matters, and its implications for public health and policymakers in the UK and beyond.
What Happened — The MMU Study
Study design and participants
The MMU researchers recruited 60 young adults in their 20s. Among them, 20 had vaped for at least two years, 20 had smoked traditional cigarettes for at least two years, and 20 neither smoked nor vaped. Participants underwent a strenuous exercise test using a static exercise bike to assess their lung and cardiovascular responses under stress.
Key findings: vaping ≈ smoking in harm
- Exercise performance lowered: The “vapers” had a peak exercise capacity of 186 watts on average — nearly identical to the 182 watts recorded for smokers, but significantly lower than 226 watts for non‑users.
- Reduced oxygen intake: The vapers and smokers had similar oxygen intake under stress (about 2.7 liters/min for vapers, 2.6 for smokers), compared to 3 liters/min for non‑vapers/non‑smokers.
- Physical fitness and respiratory strain: Vaping and smoking young adults struggled more with breathing, and reached muscle fatigue faster than non-users under the same exercise.
Because of these findings, the researchers concluded that long-term vaping may harm physical performance and lung health in ways comparable to smoking.
Researchers’ early views vs later conclusions
Interestingly, the study lead (reported in media) admitted that at the start, he believed vaping might be a safer alternative to smoking. But after reviewing early data — even though the study is “still underway” — he warned vaping might be worse than previously thought.
Why the Study Is Significant
Challenges the “vaping = safer” narrative
For years, vaping has been promoted as a harm-reduction tool: a less dangerous way for smokers to transition away from cigarettes. The MMU findings question that narrative — at least for long-term young adult vapers. The fact that vapers and smokers showed similar health and fitness impairments under stress suggests vaping might not be the “safe middle ground” many presumed.
Adds to growing evidence about vaping risks
This study isn’t alone. Other research warns that vaping can damage lung function, impair cardiovascular health, and lead to long-term respiratory problems. Moreover, broader surveys in the UK show vaping rising sharply among young adults — even among those who never regularly smoked. The MMU study adds a rigorous, experimental data point to those population‑level trends.
Public health implications
- Youth risk increases: As vaping becomes more popular among younger age groups, health risks once associated with smoking may re-emerge.
- Policy urgency: Regulators and lawmakers may need to reconsider vaping rules, marketing, age limits, and public messaging — especially for non-smokers and youth.
- Need for long-term data: While this study is eye‑opening, long-term cohort studies are necessary to confirm chronic effects over decades. Indeed, other research bodies are launching such studies now.
What It Means — Broader Implications
For current smokers considering vaping
If you smoke and are considering vaping as a “safer alternative,” the MMU study suggests caution. While vaping may spare you from some cigarette‑specific toxins (tar, carbon monoxide), it might still impair lung capacity and cardiovascular fitness similarly to smoking.
For policymakers and health authorities
The findings strengthen the case for stricter regulation of e‑cigarettes, especially concerning marketing to youth, flavour restrictions, age verification, and public awareness campaigns. Policymakers should treat vaping less as a harmless “lesser evil” and more as a legitimate health risk.
For parents, educators, and youth
With vaping rising among young adults — including many who never smoked before — there’s a real risk of a new generation facing health problems previously tied to smoking. Understanding the risks, discouraging uptake, and promoting awareness are more important than ever.
Limitations and Considerations
- The MMU study had a small sample size (60 people), which limits how generalizable the findings are.
- The study focused on exercise capacity and immediate physiological responses — not on long-term disease outcomes like cancer, COPD, or heart disease.
- Some critics argue that early media reporting may overstate conclusions — particularly claims linking vaping to dementia or organ failure.
- More comprehensive, long-term studies — following vapers and non‑vapers over years — are needed for definitive conclusions.
What’s Next — Broader Context and Ongoing Research
In light of growing concern, other institutions in the UK are launching larger and longer-term studies to examine vaping’s effects on lung health. For example, University of Birmingham recently started a multi-year project to follow participants’ lung health over time — focusing on immune cells, airway inflammation, and long-term respiratory changes.
These studies will be critical. They may confirm — or challenge — early findings like the MMU results. Their findings may shape future public-health policies, vape regulations, and clinical recommendations.
The Manchester Metropolitan University vaping study delivers a powerful warning: vaping is not harmless. For young adults, especially those who never smoked, vaping could pose serious risks to lung capacity, cardiovascular performance, and overall respiratory health. While more research is needed — particularly long-term studies — the evidence so far demands caution.
FAQs
Is vaping safer than smoking?
According to the recent MMU study, vaping may offer no real safety advantage. Vapers showed similar lung and oxygen capacity impairments under stress as smokers.
Does vaping cause lung damage like smoking?
The MMU research suggests long-term vaping can impair lung capacity and oxygen intake, similar to smoking — both groups underperformed compared to non‑users in exercise tests.
Should smokers switch to vaping to quit cigarettes?
At this point, switching to vaping might not eliminate health risks. While vapes lack tar and certain cigarette toxins, they still appear to harm lungs and cardiovascular function. More long-term data are needed.
Is vaping risky for young people who never smoked?
A: Yes. If vaping reduces lung capacity and fitness over time, young non-smokers who start vaping may face health consequences — possibly similar to those of long-term smokers.
What further research is underway?
UK researchers — including at University of Birmingham — are launching long-term studies tracking lung health, airway inflammation, and cellular changes in vapers to assess chronic risks.
