Here's what you need to know first
- There have already been registered cases in the US, although rare, of serious lung damage
- Teenagers are among the most at risk groups
- Health experts express concern about possible long-term consequences of vaping
A 17-year-old girl in the US was recently diagnosed with "popcorn lung" after secretly smoking vapes for three years. This irreversible condition, known as bronchiolitis obliterans, scars the alveoli – small air sacs at the end of the bronchioles. And that makes it difficult for people to breathe.
Although rare, her case could point to a larger problem. In 2019, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported nearly 3,000 cases of EVALI, a lung injury linked to the use of e-cigarettes or vaping products. There were 68 deaths, mostly in teenagers and young adults.
"Some of the most severe cases make headlines. "This is a slow, sustained lung injury," says Donal O'Shea, professor of chemistry at the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Ireland.
Although vapes are touted as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, scientists are concerned about how little we know about their long-term effects on human health.
What happens when we vape?
When a smoker inhales from a vape, a battery activates a metal coil that heats the liquid inside. This creates an aerosol that is inhaled into the lungs.
Vape liquid contains chemicals mixed with nicotine salts and flavorings. These components create thousands of potential chemical combinations when mixed together. No one knows exactly what happens in the lungs when these heated compounds penetrate them: "What will this chemical hit first? Could it be some sensitive lung tissue that is not recovering? If the lungs are exposed to this effect for many years, could this lead to "popcorn lung"? Prof. O'Shea asks himself these questions.
Are vaping harmful to health?
Researchers are still studying the effects of inhaled vapors on the human body, but already worrying trends are emerging. Studies show that it causes inflammation of the lungs, and people who smoke vapes report the following symptoms: coughing, throat irritation and shortness of breath.
"It took decades to prove the harm of smoking and that it causes diseases. "The companies that sell these products have been in denial about these harms," O'Shea recalls, adding that unfortunately it seems we are now allowing history to repeat itself - this time with vapes.
Scientists and doctors are concerned about how little we know about the potential long-term health effects. Traditional cigarettes have been studied for decades and have been shown to cause cancer. Vapes have gained momentum in the past decade, meaning that the long-term effects have been less studied.
"In teenagers, lung, heart and brain tissue are not yet fully developed and are more easily damaged. In other words, young people are more vulnerable to the toxins they inhale," says O'Shea.
Nicotine is a key ingredient in most vapes, and it is highly addictive. Many teenagers report feeling restless or irritable for hours after vaping. "What we're seeing is that younger people are becoming addicted very, very quickly," says Professor O'Shea.
In the nearly 3,000 cases of severe acute lung injury (EVALI) reported in the US, vitamin E acetate, a substance used as an additive in e-liquids and e-cigarettes, is thought to be the main cause of death. In 2019, researchers found that when heated, it produces a highly toxic gas.
The global picture
Vaping is not just a US trend. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), children aged 13 to 15 are vaping more often than adults. A recent survey of 25,000 South African schoolchildren found that 16.8% of them used vapes - far more than the 2% who smoked traditional cigarettes.
Vapes attract young people with their attractive flavors and the widespread belief that they are less harmful than traditional cigarettes.
But are vapes a good alternative to traditional smoking? For adult smokers who want to quit smoking, vapes are even recommended as an alternative. But for non-smokers, especially young people, their use is associated with risks.
"It's essentially replacing one addiction with another addiction," sums up Professor Donal O'Shea from the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Ireland.
Author: Amy Stockdale