Prejudice about vaping dispelled: safety theory turned out to be wrong

Vaping is considered a safer alternative to smoking, allowing people to get their fix of nicotine without the harm of regular cigarettes. But there is now growing evidence that the gadgets themselves pose dangers, with numerous studies raising the alarm about the potential risks of vaping.

Experts are especially concerned about the rapid spread of the habit among teenagers and even young children who have never smoked before.

New concerns about the safety of e-cigarettes have emerged after a study found that vaping causes changes in cells that can later cause cancer – just like traditional tobacco smoking.

Scientists who examined mouth swabs from smokers and e-cigarette users found similar DNA changes in cell samples taken from both groups. This indicates that vaping “is not as harmless as originally thought”, said researchers from University College London and the University of Innsbruck.

At the time, Cancer Research UK said there was no conclusive evidence that vaping causes cancer. Previous studies also found that e-gamer users showed a similar pattern of changes in genes as smokers, although the changes were more pronounced in people who smoked. Other analyzes have identified risks associated with chemical reactions that occur during vaping.

Metal components in devices that heat liquid containing nicotine and flavorings to create vapor can also release toxic metals, which include arsenic, chromium, nickel and lead.

Research has shown that exposure to these metals may also contribute to the development of popcorn lung, a dangerous inflammation of the respiratory tract that leads to wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. Cancer Research UK denies this and says an e-liquid additive that has been linked to the disease was banned in 2016.

In extreme cases, inflammation caused by vaping has even been linked to the formation of holes in the lung itself. The disease usually develops within a month as nanoparticles from the vapor gradually penetrate into the lung tissue.

One study found that people who vaped for at least six months experienced high levels of inflammation, mouth sores, and up to a 100-fold increase in oral fungi.

A paper published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine that tracked vapers for three years also found that their risk of developing respiratory disease was 1.3 times higher than people who did not use any tobacco products.

In the study, UCLA researchers compared oxidative stress in the lungs of smokers, vapers, and people with no history of long-term use of tobacco or nicotine devices. They found that vaping for just 30 minutes caused levels of oxidative stress two to four times higher than baseline levels in those who had never smoked.

Another danger of vaping, which is exactly the same as that of cigarettes, is that it is addictive due to its nicotine content. Nicotine is an addictive substance that, once in the body, binds to proteins in the brain in just 11 seconds. While there, it triggers the release of the hormones dopamine and serotonin, providing a feeling of euphoria and calm. Nicotine also increases blood pressure and makes the heart beat faster.

Once this addiction is established, nicotine withdrawal can lead to irritation, anger or sadness, as well as anxiety and problems concentrating.

A recent study found that vaping for just an hour causes blood vessels to take three days to return to normal function. In the long term, experts say, this can lead to hardening of blood vessels, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks.

In 2023, the American Heart Association stated that long-term vaping leads to “cardiac remodeling,” which in turn can lead to heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms.

Originally touted as a new way to help smokers kick the habit, vaping and e-cigarettes have become a vice in their own right.

The industry, which is currently valued at over £1.3 billion in the UK, has spawned a number of specialist vape shops. Almost all experts agree that the available evidence suggests that vapes are much safer than traditional cigarettes, which they were originally intended to replace. While a 2015 report from the now-defunct Public Health England concluded that vaping is 95 percent less harmful than smoking. The safety of e-cigarettes is causing confusion because the now oft-cited figure was taken from a study that itself noted that their estimates were based on very early-stage evidence of the potential harms of vaping.

Doctors have expressed fears that in the coming decades, people who become addicted to the habit at a young age could experience a wave of lung disease, dental problems and even cancer.

In 2023, leading pediatricians also warned that children are being hospitalized with breathing difficulties caused by vaping, amid an “alarming” youth vaping epidemic.

Forty children and young people were admitted to hospital in England in 2023 due to “vaping-related illnesses”, which could include lung damage or worsening asthma symptoms, up from 11 two years earlier, according to the National Health Service.

Figures show one in five UK children have tried vaping despite it being illegal for under-18s, while the number of children vaping has tripled in the last three years. Also, according to the report, disposable vapes are the preferred e-cigarette among young people due to the fact that they can be purchased at any store.