This morning, radio presenter Fran Kelly, host of ABC Radio National's Breakfast program interviewed Professor Robert West, Professor of Health Psychology and Director of Tobacco Studies at Cancer Research UK about this increasing use of electronic cigarettes.

The interviewed covered a variety of questions themed around e-cigarettes rapid uptake and growth and if they are a magic bullet for those addicted to tobacco smoke. “In the UK we not seeing e-cigarettes as a gateway to take up a nicotine addiction, we’re seeing the most common usage of e-cigarettes is by people trying to stop smoking, and if they can’t stop they are using them to try and cut down” Professor West said.

Can we finally see the end of smoked tobacco and the end of people dying from smoking - Professor West talked about the question of inhaling nicotine in a form that isn’t going to kill people versus a form that can kill. And when asked if nicotine was cancer causing he said “Nicotine is not the primary toxic ingredient of cigarette smoke”.

You can listen to the full interview here.