[Editorial] E-cigarettes: Public Health England`s evidence-based confusion (Lancet)

Last week, Public Health England (PHE) reported what it described as a `landmark review` of evidence about e-cigarettes. The headline in their press release quoted their top-line finding--`E-cigarettes around 95% less harmful than tobacco`. Kevin Fenton, Director of Health and Wellbeing at PHE, commented that, `E-cigarettes are not completely risk free but when compared to smoking, evidence shows they carry just a fraction of the harm`. Indeed, the 95% figure was widely picked up in news media. The BBC, for example, reported with certainty that `E-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than tobacco`.