Vaping might not be as harmless as orginally thought, according to a UK study that has found a link between e-cigarettes and the development of cancer.
The study from University College London analysed DNA from 3500 people and found vapers experienced similar DNA changes in their cheek cells as smokers.
It found the changes were associated with future cancer development.
Labour's health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said vaping had been effective in bringing down smoking, "which is the leading cause of preventable death in New Zealand.
"However, we do need to do more to stop youth vaping," she said.
The rate of daily vaping in New Zealand had increased during the past five years from 2.6 percent in 2017/18 to 9.7 percent in 2022/23, according to the Health Survey.
It's a useful tool to get cigarette-smokers off tobacco but, with close to one in 10 adults vaping daily, there are some fresh health concerns.
George Laking, the director of the centre for cancer research and chair of End Smoking New Zealand, argues the new study shouldn't change the basic public health messages of "vaping to quit".
Watch the full video for more.
