Researchers are encouraging people who vape or smoke to get involved in a study to explore the effects of vaping.
The study is set to explore the longer-term effects of vaping on our hearts, lungs and arteries and has successfully tested 150 people so far.
Robyn Garland, a 23-year-old student at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “I don’t think it’s good for you at all, I see vapes everywhere now, especially young kids with them. If it’s an alternative to smoking, then I suppose it’s better for you than smoking twenty cigarettes a day.
“They’re doing these studies now because no one actually knows what they do to our bodies. All vapes have batteries in them and why would that be better for your body.”
The research study by Sheffield Hallam University has been funded by Heart Research UK and they are looking to recruit four groups of volunteers.
National studies have shown around 7% of adults in England vaped in 2021 and in 2023, 7.6% of young children aged 11-17 in the UK were vaping regularly.
The study needs to recruit people who currently vape but have never smoked, those who currently both vape and smoke, ex-smokers who vape and ex-smokers who do not vape.
Sandra Marshall, 70, was an avid smoker in her lifetime but has been vaping for fifteen years since she quit smoking.
“I smoked for years but then again everyone did when I was younger, it was more strange if you didn’t. I couldn’t go a day without one. I quit a long time ago but I vape now and I still can’t live without that but I do think it’s better for you than smoking. It’s dangerous stuff for kids and no one knows what it’ll do to them yet so I do think they really should be looking into it.”
You can answer a questionnaire online to see if you meet the requirements to take part in the research study.
Participants will also receive an individual health report at the end of the study.