Failing to warn about teen cancer risk from vaping is 'unforgivable' - says surgeon

Failing to warn teenagers about cancer risks from vaping is “unforgivable”, a leading surgeon has said as he calls on ministers to introduce child-specific guidance on the dangers of e-cigarettes.

Professor Kefah Mokbel, chief breast cancer surgeon at the London Breast Institute, said current Government advice is leading youngsters into believing e-cigarettes are safe.

Public Health England states that e-cigarettes are estimated to be 95 per cent less harmful than tobacco.

However, in his letter to the Health and Education secretaries, Professor Mokbel said e-cigarettes had not been available long enough for scientists to properly understand the risks.

“It would be unforgivable if we were to do nothing, only to discover in 30 years' time that widespread vaping among teenagers in the 2010s and 2020s had triggered a significant number of avoidable cases of breast cancer,” he said.

He pointed out that “established science” suggests toxic substances in the vapours that users inhale could trigger tumours in later life.

The number of teenagers who have tried e-cigarettes has risen rapidly to one in six, double the proportion just four years ago, and experts are increasingly voicing concerns about aggressive marketing of the products to teenagers.

Amy Sellars, assistant head teacher at Latymer Upper School, a private school in London, told the Mail on Sunday she had written to parents warning them of a “new craze for the devices.”

She singled out Juul, a US make, which “has now become popular with British children as young as 12”.

Professor Mokbel called on Matt Hancock and Damien Hinds to introduce education packages to highlight the potential dangers of e-cigarettes.

“I fear a grave, unintended consequence of promoting vaping as a safer alternative to smoking has been large numbers of school-age children taking it up,” he said.

“What too few people realise is that e-cigarette vapours not only contain addictive nicotine, they also contain numerous potentially toxic chemicals that may well increase lifetime risk of cancer.”

He added: “I have no doubt e-cigarettes are far safer than tobacco, and smokers should be encouraged to switch.

“But given what we know is in e-cigarette vapour, it is my duty as a doctor and father to speak up.”

The warning follows a Daily Telegraph investigation which the social media site Instagram is promoting vape products using cartoons to children as young as 13.

Promoted posts also showed e-cigarettes with flavoured e-liquids in packaging made to look like fizzy drinks cans and bubble gum.

Hazel Cheeseman, director of policy at the pressure group Action on Smoking and Health, said: “Current evidence does not support the alarm expressed in [Prof Mokbel's] letter.

“Regular use in teens remains low with no established link to increased rates of smoking or high risk of breast cancer, or any other type of cancer.”