Smokers sought by study team

SMOKERS considering making the switch from tobacco to e-cigarettes are being asked to participate in a health study being run by the University of Dundee.

The Vesuvius study aims to compare the health effects of e-cigarettes with those of tobacco, a subject on which there is little hard scientific evidence.

The Vesuvius team is looking to find 80 people aged 18 and over who have been smoking for at least two years and currently smoke at least 15 tobacco cigarettes a day.

Taking part i n t he study involves two visits to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, both of which will take about two hours. The visits are four weeks apart.

Participants will be divided into groups using e-cigarettes, some with nicotine and some without, and a comparison group who continue smoking their tobacco cigarettes.

Those in the e-cigarette groups would have to stop using tobacco cigarettes for the four weeks of the study.

Dr Jacob George, who is leading the project, said: “We know any change to habit can be difficult for smokers but we really do need their help with this important study.

“There is surprisingly little scientific evidence which really shows the benefits or otherwise of using e-cigarettes as opposed to tobacco.

“If we can get more information relating to the comparative effects of e-cigarettes and tobacco then people may in future be able to help to make much more informed decisions.”