Vaping is 99% Less Toxic Than Smoking, Says BAT Scientist
Is there credible science demonstrating that vaping is a significantly safer alternative to smoking? According to Dr. James Murphy, Director of Research and Science at British American Tobacco (BAT), one of the world’s leading tobacco companies, the answer is a resounding yes. He asserts that a vape product contains less than 1% of the toxic load found in a combustible cigarette – a “real and verifiable fact.” In an in-depth interview with MILENIO, Dr. Murphy makes a compelling case for evidence-based regulation of vaping products, warning that outright prohibitions, like the one currently in place in Mexico, do not eliminate demand but instead cede control of a multi-billion dollar market to illicit trade and organized crime.
As governments worldwide grapple with how to handle new nicotine products, Dr. Murphy argues that the choice is becoming increasingly clear: regulate based on science or allow black markets to flourish. This discussion is particularly relevant in countries like Mexico, where despite a constitutional ban on vaping products, an estimated three million people continue to use them, sourcing from an unregulated and potentially unsafe illicit market.
The Scientific Case for Vaping as Harm Reduction
Dr. Murphy, who holds a Ph.D. in Synthetic Organic Chemistry, heads BAT’s scientific research into vaping and other smoke-free options. His primary argument centers on the fundamental difference between combustion and vaporization.
“If we go back to the cigarette, when a person lights it, smoke is produced,” he explains. “It’s probably the largest chemical reaction known to man. 7,500 individual chemical compounds are generated, of which 150 are toxic. And it is the inhalation of those toxicants, over decades, that increases the risk of smoke-related diseases.”
In contrast, vaping products do not burn tobacco. They heat an e-liquid to create an aerosol. “In our studies, we find that with vaping products, many of those toxicants do not even exist in the aerosol,” Dr. Murphy states. “And in those that are present, their levels are reduced by 99 percent. That is, vaping products have less than one percent of the toxic load of a cigarette.”
While he is quick to clarify that vaping is not risk-free – “nothing is” – he emphasizes that many public health authorities and regulatory bodies have recognized its potential public health benefit as a harm reduction tool for adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke.
OMNI: A Push for Transparency and Scientific Dialogue
Acknowledging the inherent skepticism surrounding industry-funded science, especially from “Big Tobacco,” Dr. Murphy highlights BAT’s commitment to transparency as a foundational principle of its research. To this end, the company has launched OMNI, a comprehensive platform and “manifesto for tobacco harm reduction.”
“What we wanted to do was collect all the scientific evidence in a central repository, to which we will continue to add information, and use that evidence as a basis for establishing a dialogue with our multiple stakeholder groups in all our markets around the world,” he says. OMNI includes approximately 280 of BAT’s own peer-reviewed scientific publications on chemistry, toxicology, and clinical studies of smoke-free products. Importantly, it also incorporates research, articles, and statements from third-party sources, including major regulatory and public health authorities worldwide, to provide a complete picture of the evidence supporting tobacco harm reduction.
BAT intends to use this platform to re-engage with policymakers and stakeholders in key markets like Mexico. Despite the country’s constitutional ban, Dr. Murphy sees an opportunity to restart the conversation by presenting compelling scientific data and real-world evidence of harm reduction’s success.
Real-World Evidence: The Tale of Sweden, Australia, and New Zealand
Dr. Murphy points to several countries as case studies for the effectiveness (or failure) of different regulatory approaches.
- Sweden (The Success Story): Over the past 30 years, Swedish smokers have largely switched from cigarettes to snus, a type of oral smokeless tobacco. Today, Sweden’s smoking prevalence is around 5.3%, very close to the 5% threshold the WHO considers to be a “smoke-free” country. As a result, Dr. Murphy notes, “Sweden has the best results in morbidity and mortality related to tobacco.” This demonstrates that when less harmful alternatives are available, accessible, and socially acceptable, a significant positive public health outcome can be achieved.
- Australia vs. New Zealand (A Stark Contrast): These two neighboring countries took divergent paths. New Zealand embraced tobacco harm reduction, allowing regulated access to vaping products. Its smoking prevalence is now around 6.8%. Australia, in contrast, adopted a highly restrictive, prescription-only model for nicotine vapes, which has led to the proliferation of a massive illicit market. While its smoking rate has remained relatively stable in recent years, it is grappling with the consequences of an unregulated black market.
ECIGATOR
Ecigator is one of the well-known vape brands spun off from FM Technology Co., Ltd, it’s an ISO-certified disposable vape manufacturer for OEMs, ODMs, and OBM since 2010. The founder team comes from top firms with more than 10 years of experience in the vaping industry and has devoted thousands of hours to providing users with a better and better experience.
The Inevitability of Nicotine Use and the Danger of Black Markets
A core part of Dr. Murphy’s argument is the historical persistence of nicotine consumption. “One of the oldest records we found dates back about 5,000 years, with Native Americans… So that’s 5,000 years of nicotine consumption by humanity. And I think humanity will continue to use nicotine for another 5,000 years.”
Given this reality, he argues that when governments implement prohibitive policies that seem reasonable on paper, they often lead to unintended consequences in the real world. “We see it in Australia, in South Africa, and also a bit here in Mexico, where there are three million people using illicit vaping products. In Brazil, it’s two million. When there is no effective regulation, these unintended consequences arise.”
The question, he posits, is simple: if the state doesn’t regulate and tax a product that millions of people are using, who does? The answer is invariably illicit trade and organized crime, who contribute nothing to government coffers and have no interest in product safety or age restrictions.
“When you look at Australia and its regulations on cigarettes, a pack now costs around 60 pounds,” he illustrates. “In that case, people no longer go to the store; they go to the black market, controlled by criminals who contribute nothing to the government. Whereas here in Mexico, there are legal companies like BAT and others that manufacture products in the country, export them to the world, and pay taxes to the Mexican treasury. And I would think that is exactly what governments should want, instead of encouraging illicit markets.”
Addressing Youth Appeal and Flavors
Dr. Murphy acknowledges the widespread concern about flavored vapes being a “trap for minors.” He points to a policy paper BAT released globally, which makes their position clear: “there is no place for young people in nicotine products.”
In this document, BAT advocates for responsible regulation of flavors, not a total ban. “We made it clear that only certain flavors should be used, and that others should be prohibited. There is no need for confectionery-type flavors or those extravagant flavors. Certain descriptors and packaging elements that may be attractive to minors should also be eliminated.” This approach aims to preserve the flavors that are crucial for helping adult smokers switch, while removing those most likely to appeal to youth.
The Path Forward: A Call for Dialogue and Evidence-Based Policy
Dr. Murphy believes a primary barrier to sensible regulation is the long-standing confusion around nicotine itself. For decades, nicotine was inextricably linked with the harm caused by combustible cigarette smoke. “The risk profile of nicotine got mixed up with that of cigarette smoke, when in reality, scientific evidence shows that nicotine is not carcinogenic and is not the cause of smoke-related diseases,” he clarifies.
His message to skeptical health officials and policymakers is to first agree on the principle and potential benefit of tobacco harm reduction. He cites reports estimating that if the entire EU achieved the same public health outcomes as Sweden, 3.5 million lives could be saved in the next 10 years. Another report estimates 100 million lives could be saved globally by 2060 if tobacco harm reduction were integrated as a fundamental pillar of public health strategies.
For countries like Mexico with existing prohibitions, BAT’s launch of the OMNI platform is intended to be a “new beginning” – a way to restart the dialogue with policymakers, legislators, and public health bodies, armed with a comprehensive and transparent repository of scientific evidence. The goal is to convince them to re-evaluate the constitutional ban and consider a regulated market for smoke-free products. “The market is already there,” Dr. Murphy concludes, referring to the three million illicit users in Mexico. “It would be a fabulous opportunity for the government, for Mexican consumers, and, selfishly speaking, also for BAT and other manufacturers, if we could have a regulated market for smoke-free products.”
- Reference: El vapeo es 99% menos tóxico que fumar: James Murphy, científico de British American Tobacco
- South Korea Escalates Tobacco Warnings with Blunt, Fatalistic Labels - June 22, 2026
- Magnolia Commissioner Proposes Ordinance to Ban Vape Shops - June 22, 2026
- Belarus Moves to Ban Vape and E-Cigarette Advertising Under New Bill - June 22, 2026
