A new study found that e-cigarettes boost the inflammation in the body and the chemicals behind this condition, and diminish the number of protective cells in the lungs that shields these organs from harmful bugs. The researchers concluded that vaping is more harmful than previously believed.
Vaping is becoming more and more popular, while the most concerning fact is that electronic cigarettes use increased in teens exposing them to regular smoking, as well. On the other hand, even though previous studies showed that vaping is dangerous, the new research focuses on the effect of the e-cigs vapors on the lungs.
Therefore, the scientists sampled lung cells from eight healthy non-smoking individuals and exposed some of the cells to e-cig fluid. Other samples of lung cells were exposed to condensed vapors. Also, another unit of cells was not exposed to anything.
Vaping affects the lungs’ protective cells and causes inflammation in the body, exposing to chronic diseases
The condensed vapors affected the lungs more than the e-cig fluid, and its adverse effects were getting higher as the dose rose. On the other hand, the exposure to the vapor caused increased cell death and a boost in the chemicals that lead to inflammation in the body and, consequently, to chronic diseases.
Furthermore, the researchers noticed a very worrying fact, namely, a reduction in the lungs’ protective cells ability to engulf bacteria and other harmful microorganisms. However, these adverse effects worsened when nicotine was added to the equation.
“I don’t believe e-cigarettes are more harmful than ordinary cigarettes. But we should have a cautious skepticism that they are as safe as we are being led to believe. They are safer regarding cancer risk, but if you vape for 20 or 30 years and this can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, then that’s something we need to know about,” said David Thickett, the study’s leading author.
This study, carried out by researchers from the Institute of Inflammation and Aging in Birmingham and the University of Nottingham, was recently published in the journal Thorax.
