Vaping potentially linked to cancer: Understanding the risks involved
E-cigarettes, marketed as a safer alternative to traditional tobacco products, have gained popularity in recent years. However, concerns about their potential health risks, particularly in relation to cancer, persist.
E-cigarettes produce an aerosol that may contain nicotine and other substances potentially causing cancer and other health problems such as heart disease and lung disease. The aerosol from e-cigarettes may contain toxic substances such as formaldehyde and N-nitrosamines, which are known carcinogens.
Recent studies suggest that long-term vaping may have a significant negative effect on blood vessels and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Some flavorings in e-cigarettes may contain diacetyl, which may cause bronchiolitis obliterans, a severe lung disease.
Certain chemicals used in e-cigarettes, such as propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, may irritate the lungs and airways. If e-liquid in vapes does not heat correctly, it may form formaldehyde, a carcinogen.
While human epidemiological studies to date have not shown increased cancer incidence among exclusive vapers who never smoked, these studies face challenges due to the relatively short time vaping has been widespread and difficulties in isolating vaping from prior tobacco use.
On the other hand, laboratory and animal studies indicate that vaping vapor can induce cellular injury, DNA damage, and abnormal cell growth, which are known precursors to cancer. The presence of formaldehyde, benzene, and metals that accumulate in lung tissue suggests a carcinogenic potential.
Some expert groups, such as the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA), conclude that nicotine-based e-cigarettes are likely carcinogenic and “likely to cause lung and oral cancer” based on animal and mechanistic data, calling for urgent preventive action despite the lack of conclusive epidemiological evidence.
It's important to note that vaping is generally considered less carcinogenic than cigarette smoking, which causes 80-90% of lung cancer cases globally. Transitioning smokers to vaping reduces carcinogen biomarkers considerably, implying reduced but not eliminated cancer risk.
However, vaping has been linked to lung injury, respiratory symptoms, and elevated risks of asthma and other lung diseases, which may compound long-term health risks.
Due to the relatively recent introduction of vaping products, there is still not enough research to fully understand the long-term effects of vaping. If people want to quit vaping, they may find it helpful to write down a list of positive reasons for quitting, such as improving health, saving money, and improving quality of life.
In summary, while the evidence linking vaping directly to cancer in humans remains inconclusive, there is growing evidence from chemical analyses, biological effect studies, and expert reviews that vaping exposes users to carcinogens and biological damage mechanisms that could elevate cancer risk over time. Vigilance and further long-term studies are needed to clarify these risks definitively.
[1] Eissenberg, T. B., & Shah, A. (2019). E-cigarettes and lung cancer: What do we know and what do we need to know? Tobacco Control, 28(Suppl 3), i103-i113. [2] Farsalinos, K. E., & Polosa, R. (2018). Harm reduction potential of e-cigarettes: a review. Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease, 12, 155-173. [3] McRobbie, H., & Ling, P. (2019). E-cigarettes and cancer: A review of the evidence. Cancer Prevention Research, 12(1), 81-92. [4] Glantz, S. A., & Hanauer, P. L. (2019). E-cigarettes and lung disease: A review of the evidence. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 200(3), 277-286. [5] National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2018). Public Health Consequences of E-Cigarettes. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
- The popularity of e-cigarettes, claimed as a safer alternative to traditional tobacco products, has persisted, but concerns about their potential links to chronic diseases like cancer remain.
- E-cigarettes produce an aerosol that may contain nicotine, formaldehyde, and N-nitrosamines, known carcinogens, and other substances potentially causing health problems such as heart disease and lung disease.
- Some flavorings in e-cigarettes may contain diacetyl, a substance that may cause severe lung disease, bronchiolitis obliterans.
- If e-liquid in vapes does not heat correctly, it may form formaldehyde, a carcinogen.
- While human epidemiological studies have not shown an increased cancer incidence among exclusive vapers, animal and mechanistic studies suggest that nicotine-based e-cigarettes are likely carcinogenic, possibly leading to lung and oral cancer.
- Vaping has been linked to lung injury, respiratory symptoms, and elevated risks of asthma and other lung diseases, which may compound long-term health risks.
- In the pursuit of health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, skin-care, and proper nutrition, people may find it helpful to quit vaping by writing down positive reasons like improving overall health, saving money, and enhancing quality of life.
