Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsVaping and Lung CancerOther Health Risks of VapingVape Pens vs. Cigarettes
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Vaping and Lung Cancer
Other Health Risks of Vaping
Vape Pens vs. Cigarettes
Research has not proven that vaping causes lung cancer. While the material in electronic cigarettes includes chemicals linked to cancer and lung damage, there is not enough long-term research to show that vaping will give youlung cancer.
Components inhaled via vape pens, also known as electronic cigarettes, contain a mix of cancer-causing substances including thecarcinogensacetaldehydeandformaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, and heavy metals like nickel, tin, and lead.However, there’s still much unknown about their overall effect on the body.
Verywell / Laura Porter
Compared to traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes are relatively new, having gained popularity in the United States around 2007.E-cigarettes have been studied since their inception in the U.S., but more research is needed to understand therelationship between vaping and lung cancer.
Some of the chemicals found in e-cigarettes are known to cause cancer. The following are common chemicals in vape pens that the American Lung Association has identified as having a possible link to cancer:
E-cigarettes have become increasingly common in the United States, especially among young people. Since 2014, they have surpassed cigarettes as the preferred tobacco product among middle and high school students.
Nicotine and Cancer
Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, an addictive substance that causes irritability and restlessness if you don’t satisfy the craving for more.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) does not include nicotine on its list of carcinogens. However, a number of studies have identified potentially cancer-causing effects associated with nicotine, including:
Effects of Nicotine AddictionAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nicotine found in e-cigarettes can harm parts of the developing brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control.
Effects of Nicotine Addiction
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nicotine found in e-cigarettes can harm parts of the developing brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control.
Propylene Glycol and Cancer
Propylene glycol is an additive in food. It is also used to make antifreeze and paint. Some studies indicate that propylene glycol in e-cigarettes is converted into cancer-causing compounds when heated up.Because there have been limited opportunities to study its effect on humans, research related to propylene glycol in e-cigarettes has been focused on animal studies. More thorough investigations are needed to determine a clear connection between this chemical and lung cancer.
In addition to concerns about lung cancer, there are other risks associated with using vape pens. Vape pens contain manytoxic chemicalsthat are harmful to the human body, which can lead to a variety of diseases.
E-Cigarette or Vaping Use-Associated Lung Injury
E-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI) is the most significant known adverse effect of vaping. Reported cases of EVALI have increased with the rise of e-cigarette use in the United States.
Symptoms of EVALI include:
To prevent EVALI, the CDC recommends avoidingtetrahydrocannabinol(THC)-containing e-cigarettes, especially ones that have been modified from the manufacturer or have been purchased from casual sources, like friends or dealers.
The CDC also recommends avoiding e-cigarettes that contain vitamin E acetate, which has been strongly associated with the EVALI outbreak.
Cardiovascular Disease
Acrolein, acetaldehyde, and formaldehyde, toxins in e-liquids, are known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Acrolein is a chemical used to kill weeds. Acetaldehyde is used to produce herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, pharmaceuticals, and other chemical mixtures. Formaldehyde, commonly used as a preservative in mortuaries and medical laboratories, is also an ingredient in building materials, fungicides, germicides, and disinfectants.
Exposure to these chemicals can result in:
Popcorn Lung
The condition was first observed among workers in a popcorn factory that used diacetyl in the popcorn’s ingredients. Thus the name “popcorn lung.”
Today, diacetyl is a common chemical used in many flavored e-cigarette oils.
According to the American Lung Association, inhalation of this chemical can cause scarring of the lungs over time, narrowing the airways. This can lead to symptoms like coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
Lipoid Pneumonia
The symptoms of lipoid pneumonia are similar to other lung diseases and can include cough or shortness of breath. This disease can be especially dangerous because it is difficult to diagnose and treat.
Collapsed Lung
Pneumothoraxis the clinical term for a collapsed lung. Signs of a collapsed lung typically begin with chest pain and can include symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, bluish skin (which is a sign of low oxygen), rapid breathing and heart rate, and a dry cough.
Smoking has been associated with an increased risk of collapsed lung, which can be caused when blisters on the lungs burst. Vaping is now also considered a risk factor, but the reasons why are unclear, and more research is needed to understand the connection.
Secondhand VapingBreathing in secondhand cigarette smoke is known to be dangerous. However, there is little evidence about the risk of inhaling secondhand vapor from e-cigarettes.Some early studies show that vaping increases the number of fine particles in a room. These may enter deep into the lungs of a non-vapor in the room. It’s possible this could impact heart and lung health.
Secondhand Vaping
Breathing in secondhand cigarette smoke is known to be dangerous. However, there is little evidence about the risk of inhaling secondhand vapor from e-cigarettes.Some early studies show that vaping increases the number of fine particles in a room. These may enter deep into the lungs of a non-vapor in the room. It’s possible this could impact heart and lung health.
Breathing in secondhand cigarette smoke is known to be dangerous. However, there is little evidence about the risk of inhaling secondhand vapor from e-cigarettes.
Some early studies show that vaping increases the number of fine particles in a room. These may enter deep into the lungs of a non-vapor in the room. It’s possible this could impact heart and lung health.
There is some research that emphasizes that even with the possible link between vaping and cancer, e-cigarettes are a less harmful alternative to traditional smoking.
More research is needed to determine the long-term effects of e-cigarettes, including lung cancer risk. If you want to quit smoking, talk to your healthcare provider about FDA-approved options.
Vaping may lead to cigarette smoke. A study of 11th and 12th-grade students in California found that students who had used e-cigarettes were 6.17 times more likely to start smoking cigarettes compared to students who had never used e-cigarettes.
Summary
E-cigarettes contain toxic and addictive chemicals. While numerous negative health effects of e-cigarettes have already been reported, the long-term effects of vaping, including the risks of lung cancer and other diseases are still being studied.
Though the long-term risks of e-cigarette use are still being researched, proceed with caution. Vaping is risky for adults and never safe for young people.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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