The debate between vaping and smoking has been ongoing for years, with many adults turning to vape devices as an alternative to traditional tobacco. While certain regulated vaping products are generally considered less harmful than cigarettes by major public-health groups, it’s important to understand that this does not apply to unregulated, street-market cartridges like “Packman carts.”

This article breaks down the science, clarifies misconceptions, and explains why only regulated vaping products may offer a lower-risk option — while also exploring the dangers of using unverified cartridges.

1. The Harm Profile of Traditional Cigarettes

Traditional cigarettes contain:

over 7,000 chemicals
dozens of known carcinogens
combusted tar and carbon monoxide
smoke that damages the lungs, heart, and blood vessels

Cigarette smoking is linked to:

lung cancer
COPD
stroke and heart disease
chronic respiratory illness
premature death

There is overwhelming scientific consensus: cigarettes are extremely harmful.

2. How Vaping Differs From Smoking

Vaping doesn’t burn tobacco. Instead, it heats a liquid (nicotine or otherwise) into an aerosol.
This means:

no tar
no combustion
far fewer toxic chemicals compared to cigarette smoke

Leading health bodies — including the UK’s Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) — state that regulated nicotine vaping products are significantly less harmful than smoking for adult smokers switching completely.

But this only applies to legal, regulated devices and liquids.

3. Why Packman Carts Are NOT a Safe Alternative

Packman-branded carts are typically:

unregulated
untested
often counterfeit
sold without verified ingredients
illegal in many places

They may contain:

unknown additives
unsafe thinning agents
inconsistent or contaminated oil

This puts them in a high-risk category, completely separate from regulated nicotine vapes.

If someone is considering switching from smoking, Packman carts are not an appropriate option and may be more dangerous due to unknown contents.

4. Why Regulated Vaping Products May Be Lower-Risk Than Cigarettes

💨 1. No Combustion

Most harms from smoking come from burning tobacco.
Vaping avoids combustion entirely.

🧪 2. Fewer Toxic Chemicals

Regulated vape liquids are required to list ingredients and meet safety standards.
Cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals; vape aerosol contains far fewer.

❤️ 3. Potential for Harm Reduction

For adult smokers unable to quit through other means, switching to regulated vaping may reduce exposure to harmful substances.

👃 4. Less Smell and Irritation

Vapor dissipates quickly and doesn’t cling to clothing.

🚫 5. No Second-Hand Smoke

Aerosol is different from smoke and contains far fewer toxins, though exposure should still be minimized.

5. Where Vaping and Smoking Both Carry Risks

Neither option is risk-free.
Even regulated vapes:

contain addictive nicotine
may irritate lungs
can cause dependence

For non-smokers, neither vaping nor smoking is recommended.
For smokers, switching to regulated vaping may be lower-risk — but unregulated cartridges like Packman carts do not offer that benefit.

6. The Best Option for Health

Public-health guidance is clear:

Best: Quit all smoking and vaping entirely
Next best: Use regulated nicotine vapes as a harm-reduction tool if unable to quit cigarettes
Worst: Use unregulated, street-market cartridges

Packman-style carts fall into the highest-risk category because their contents cannot be verified.

Final Thoughts

When comparing smoking to vaping, the key distinction is regulation and safety standards:

Traditional cigarettes → extremely harmful
Regulated nicotine vapes → lower-risk alternative for adult smokers
Unregulated cartridges (including Packman carts) → unpredictable and potentially dangerous

For anyone trying to reduce harm, switching from cigarettes to verified, legally manufactured vape products — or quitting entirely — is the safest path.