Author | Lightnews

Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 3d

New review: 40 lab studies using the InExpose system may have overstated vaping risks. Most ran high power with low airflow, conditions that overheat devices and distort results. #Vaping #HarmReduction clearingtheair.eu/en/post/flaw...

Flawed lab methods may exaggerate vaping risks, major new review finds

Most laboratory studies using a popular vaping exposure system likely overheated vape aerosol, producing unrealistic toxin levels. Only 14 of 40 studies gave enough detail to reproduce how the…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 4d

📊 New PATH study: smokers who vape quit more often, across all flavours, all devices, all ages. Vaping works. Full stop. #HarmReduction #Vaping clearingtheair.eu/post/smokers...

Smokers who vape quit more often across all flavours and devices, new PATH study finds

Cigarette quit rates among vapers rose sharply between 2014 and 2021. The increase was seen across all vape flavours - menthol, fruit, and mixed - except tobacco flavour. Quit rates rose for every…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 5d

Bad science makes big headlines. Retractions whisper. 3 anti-vape studies collapsed under scrutiny, but not before shaping policy & public opinion. >>> clearingtheair.eu/post/when-sc... #Vaping #Science

When science fails: 3 anti-vape studies that didn’t survive scrutiny

Several studies making dramatic claims about the dangers of vaping have made headlines in recent years - only to be withdrawn after serious questions were raised about their methods and conclusions.…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 6d

🇸🇪 Sweden just became Europe’s first smoke-free nation. Scotland hasn’t budged in years. Same goal, very different results → clearingtheair.eu/post/sweden-... #HarmReduction #SmokeFree

Sweden is Europe’s first smoke-free nation as Scotland’s progress stalls

Sweden has become the first country in Europe to achieve smoke-free status, while smoking rates in Scotland have stalled amid restrictions on vaping and a decline in cessation funding. Sweden reaches…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 7d

🚭 UK ban backfires: 62.5% of vapers still on disposables, 82% of 25–34s, and 35% still buying them today. Black market wins, public health loses. #HarmReduction #Vaping clearingtheair.eu/en/post/the-...

The UK government’s push to create a “smoke-free generation” is facing major challenges – both in the courts and on the streets.

A potential legal clash in Northern Ireland threatens to derail new nationwide tobacco laws, while new data shows that disposable vape use remains widespread despite it being banned. A new report…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 11d

🚨 127,000 French vapers say non merci to a crushing vape tax, and that’s in just 3 days. Lawmakers want to call vaping “tobacco” and slap huge levies on it. Common sense says: don’t. #HarmReduction #Vaping Read more → clearingtheair.eu/en/post/1000...

100,000 + sign French petition against crushing vape tax

Over 100.000 people have signed a French petition calling for the government to rethink its proposed vape tax in just three days. The petition has over 127.000 signatures at the time of writing. The…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 12d

🚨 SCOOP: Italy warns EU nicotine tax will fuel organised crime & black markets. Rome calls Brussels’ plan “damaging to public health” & a gift to smugglers. clearingtheair.eu/en/post/scoo...

SCOOP: Italian Government scathing opposition to EU nicotine tax

The Italian Government fears a significant shift to the black market if the EU tax is approved, according to a “Reasoned Opinion” published by the Italian Government and reproduced here by Clearing…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 13d

EXCLUSIVE: Belgium bans pouches. Belgium bans disposables. Smoking rate? Still stuck at 21%. Now Deputy PM Vandenbroucke wants to lecture the world on vaping at WHO’s tobacco summit. 🚬➡️💨 clearingtheair.eu/en/post/excl...

EXCLUSIVE: Belgian Deputy Prime Minister to host public anti-nicotine seminar during COP 11

Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and former Health Minister Franck Vandenbroucke will host a livestreamed seminar on novel nicotine products, with a focus on vaping, during the WHO’s biannual…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 14d

“Harm-searching” is the new playbook: test vapes in unrealistic ways, exaggerate byproducts, ignore 15 years of real-world safety data. #THR clearingtheair.eu/post/new-sci...

New science review on vape ingredients criticised for unrealistic testing

A new paper claims vape liquids can release harmful chemicals when overheated. Experts say the tests used in the study don’t match how people actually vape. Human studies show no measurable breathing…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 17d

📢 🇬🇧 Deadline alert: The UK Gov is asking for evidence on vape flavours, nicotine limits, device design + retailer licensing. Submissions close 11:59pm, 3 Dec. This is your chance to influence the future of harm reduction. clearingtheair.eu/en/post/have...

Have your say: UK government seeks evidence on vape licensing and product rules

Members of the public, retailers and experts can respond to the government’s call for evidence here by 11:59pm on 3 December 2025. Retailers, health experts and the public are being urged to respond…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 17d

👀 “As many vapes as you want — but it goes off your allowance.” Big Brother 2024 alum Lily Benson spills the tea on how nicotine rules really work behind the scenes. clearingtheair.eu/post/big-bro...

Big Brother star claims contestants can vape – but it’s deducted from their pay

A former Big Brother housemate has lifted the lid on the show’s behind-the-scenes rules for smoking and vaping - and the details are more surprising than your average reality show twist. Lily Benson,…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 18d

🌍 Asia-Pacific has 781M tobacco users, 63% of the global total. Instead of backing safer alternatives, @WHO is shutting them down. Ex-WHO director Tikki Pang calls it “contradicting science.” clearingtheair.eu/post/whos-ha...

WHO’s harm reduction stance ‘contradicts science,’ says former agency director

A former World Health Organisation (WHO) director has accused the agency of ignoring science and blocking progress on tobacco harm reduction. Professor Tikki Pang warns that the WHO’s current…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 19d

🚨 BREAKING: The European Commission will unveil its long-awaited evaluation of EU tobacco laws, led by Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, who has falsely claimed nicotine causes cancer. New rules expected by 2027. clearingtheair.eu/en/post/excl...

EXCLUSIVE: EU to launch review of EU Tobacco Control law next year

The European Commission is to unveil its “evaluation report” on the EU’s Tobacco Control policy framework, according to a draft of the Commission’s work plan seen by Clearing the Air. The package…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 19d

Sweden to France: banning nicotine pouches is “as absurd as banning baguettes.” 🥖🇸🇪 This fight over harm reduction is about to heat up. #SmokeFree clearingtheair.eu/post/sweden-...

Sweden warns France and Spain over ‘absurd’ pouch bans

Sweden has stepped up its opposition to proposed nicotine pouch bans in France and Spain, sending formal letters to both governments and calling the measures “absurd.” The correspondence, signed by…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 20d

Vaping has helped 1.9M Canadians move away from cigarettes. Yet BC is gearing up to sue the very companies behind it, echoing old anti-tobacco playbooks in search of a payday. Wrong target, wrong century. clearingtheair.eu/post/canadia...

Canadian province targets vape companies with new cost recovery law

British Columbia has become the first province in Canada to table legislation that would allow it to recover healthcare costs from vape companies accused of misleading the public. Attorney General…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 24d

🚨 Fresh data from CoEHAR: heavy smokers face 2x higher odds of wheezing. Vapers? No extra risk compared with never-smokers. Switching makes a real difference. clearingtheair.eu/post/vaping-...

Vaping carries far lower risk of wheezing than smoking, new CoEHAR study finds

Smokers were nearly twice as likely to develop wheezing compared with vapers. The risk of respiratory symptoms rose sharply according to the number of cigarettes smoked daily. Exclusive vape use…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 24d

🔎 New: Five WHO blunders on vaping that have set back global harm reduction. From fearmongering to bad policy, here’s how the world’s “health authority” keeps failing smokers. clearingtheair.eu/post/five-wh...

Five WHO blunders that exposed its failures on vaping

The World Health Organisation portrays itself as the ultimate health authority. But its approach to vaping and other safer nicotine products has faced growing criticism for contradictions and…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 25d

Marty Makary: “25% of kids vape.” FDA survey: 5.9%. Either the Commissioner doesn’t know his own agency’s data, or he’s fuelling moral panic to justify draconian actions. Neither is acceptable. clearingtheair.eu/en/post/fda-...

FDA inflates teen vaping figures as small firms fight for survival

FDA Commissioner Dr Marty Makary has claimed that “up to a quarter or more” of U.S. children are “regularly using” vapes - but the agency’s own data puts the figure at just 5.9 per cent. The inflated…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 25d

Prison officers in NI are still exposed to second-hand smoke because inmates can light up in their cells. Now, the justice minister plans a vape pilot to protect staff and cut smoking inside. 🚭➡️💨 clearingtheair.eu/post/ni-back...

NI backs vaping to cut prison smoking as Republic drives up vape costs

Northern Ireland’s justice minister has floated a pilot vaping scheme for prisoners - as the Republic of Ireland doubles vape prices with a new tax from November. Prison smoking exemption under…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 26d

🚨 Exclusive: EU’s leaked COP11 playbook reveals the goal - erase harm reduction, ban safer nicotine, leave cigarettes untouched. A win for ideology, a loss for lives. #HarmReduction @WHO #COP11 clearingtheair.eu/en/post/excl...

Exclusive: EU’s Leaked COP11 Position Signals Harsh Crackdown on Safer Nicotine Products

A leaked European Union draft position for next month’s WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) meeting reveals a sweeping push to extend tobacco-style restrictions, and even possible…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 27d

EU Health Commissioner @OliverVarhelyi says vapes should be taxed the same as cigarettes because of “health impact.” Reality check: smoking kills 700,000 Europeans a year. Vaping? Zero. #FollowTheScience clearingtheair.eu/post/eu-vows...

EU vows vape tax hike as officials liken vapes to cigarettes

The European Union (EU) is preparing to hike taxes on vapes to the same level as cigarettes, as top commissioners draw direct comparisons between the two products - a move critics say ignores…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 27d

Forget water bottles, Vicky Pattison just added her vape to her Strictly “training essentials” kit 💃✨ clearingtheair.eu/post/vicky-p...

Vicky Pattison reveals her vape is a Strictly ‘training essential’

Vicky Pattison has revealed that her vape has become a Strictly Come Dancing “training essential.” The TV personality, 37, who is paired with professional dancer Kai Widdrington on this year’s BBC…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · 28d

🚨 Ahead of #COP11, we sat down with Dr Derek Yach, former WHO Director for NCDs and one of the most influential voices in global health. In Part 1 of our exclusive interview, he traces his journey from apartheid-era South Africa to the frontline of tobacco policy. clearingtheair.eu/en/post/voic...

Voices of Harm Reduction Pt 9: Derek Yach

As we count down to the WHO’s bi-annual summit on tobacco control - which is increasingly used to spread misinformation about harm reduction, we sat down with former WHO Director for Non-Communicable…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · Oct 3

First Hoekstra said “vaping kills.” Now Várhelyi says “nicotine causes cancer.” Both flat-out wrong. Both contradicted by the EU’s own science. Why are EU Commissioners spreading disinformation? 🤔 #HarmReduction clearingtheair.eu/en/post/excl...

EXCLUSIVE: Varheyli tweets, then deletes, false claim that nicotine causes cancer

A European Commissioner has come under fire for spreading misinformation about nicotine, just months after another senior EU official made similarly inaccurate claims about vaping. On September 30,…

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Clearing the Air @clearingtheair.bsky.social · Oct 3

Most smokers now believe the lie 🚬➡️💨 A new study finds 71% of US smokers and 34% in the UK think vaping is as harmful as smoking, despite overwhelming evidence it’s far safer. Misinformation kills. clearingtheair.eu/en/post/most...

Most UK and U.S. smokers now believe vaping is as harmful as smoking, new study finds

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