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E-Cigarettes: Research Studies And Concerns

by — Last updated: 2020-07-02 in Respiratory tract disorders and diseases

Table of Contents

Using an e-cigarette is called ‘vaping’, and many health authorities are concerned that this could increase the number of people using them, as it is considered a trend, particularly amongst young people.

Vaping Mice

An American study into the effects of e-cigarette vapor on mice showed worrying findings. The mice were divided into two groups, with one being exposed to the vapor for a period of two weeks. The exposure of the mice to the vapor showed that there was some detrimental effect on the lungs. The damage caused included inflammation of the lung tissue and damage to protein.

These mice were also unable to clear any bacteria from their lungs, and this resulted in viral infection. Many of these mice ended up losing weight and some even died. It was discovered that their immune system had been compromised, and they were unable to fight off infection.

Another discovery was the presence of what are called ‘free radicals’ in the vapor. Although this was only at a fraction of what is found in regular cigarette smoke, it was still enough to damage cells and DNA. Damage to the DNA could possibly lead to cancer, so the question that needed answering, was whether or not e-cigarettes were safe at all.

Human Testing

Because of the potential harm the free radicals in e-cigarettes can cause the cells in the human body, more extensive research is required to determine how high this risk is. One such study has been undertaken by researchers from the University of California. By creating an extract form the vapor of e-cigarettes, they have then applied to human cells in a laboratory.

The results showed that there was DNA damage to the cells, and they died a lot quicker than those not exposed to the vapor. Even those that contained no nicotine still showed more strand breaks of the DNA by 50%. The e-cigarettes that contained nicotine, caused triple the amount of damage over an eight week period.

Therefore, the results of this particular study showed that the e-cigarettes could be causing a lot more harm than good, and that people were no better off than if they were smoking regular cigarettes. Public Health England has been urging smokers to switch to e-cigarettes, whereas the World Health Organization has some concerns, which shows that even the health authorities are divided over the safety issue of vaping.

It is well-known that nicotine causes cell damage, but if damage was still occurring in those e-cigarettes that are nicotine-free, there must be other components in the vapor that are to blame as well. This has led scientists to look deeper into the chemicals found in the vapor cartridges, and one of these chemicals is formaldehyde, which is known to be a carcinogen. Another chemical in the vapor that has been linked to lung disease is diacetyl.

READ Why Some Health Experts Believe E-Cigarettes May Actually Be A Good Thing

Conclusion

There are an estimated 25,000 deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) related to smoking in the UK each year. Those with COPD are strongly urged to give up smoking, and some health authorities have suggested these people use e-cigarettes as a means to quit. In some cases, this may be better for the patient, as the lung disease is already present, so the low rate of damage by the e-cigarette is going to be easier to manage than the serious damage caused by regular cigarettes.

As further human studies are being conducted, the long-term effects of e-cigarettes will become better known, and researchers will know whether or not they are safe to use over a period of time. In the meantime, follow your health provider’s instructions and advice. And if you are not a smoker, don’t start vaping!