Vaping vs. smoking: what are the risks? Pacific Life Re Many people believe that vaping is less harmful than smoking, but that's a common misconception. In fact, in addition to nicotine, vapes can contain toxic chemicals that could be linked to cancer, Is vaping as bad as smoking cigarettes? BBC Learning English from the News Vapes might be less harmful than traditional cigarettes and might help smokers quit smoking, but they are not safe, especially for individuals younger than 25 years old. Plus, much is still unknown