Can Vapor Cause Cancer?

More and more people in their lives are choosing to smoke e-cigarettes, which seem to be safer than traditional cigarettes for one simple reason: people don't light them to smoke. 

There is no burning tobacco in e-cigarettes, so they don't produce a myriad of new chemicals, including about 60 known carcinogens.

However, new research suggests that some popular e-cigarettes are heated at too high a temperature and may produce small amounts of carcinogens at levels similar to those found in cigarettes.

For more information about：Does Vaping Cause Lung Damage and Cancer

Is vaping safe?

A study to be published in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research has found that high-powered e-cigarettes known as "tank systems" produce formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, along with the nicotine vapor inhaled by users.

The toxin is formed when liquid nicotine and other e-cigarette ingredients are exposed to high temperatures. Another study noted similar findings.

The long-term effects of inhaling nicotine vapor are unknown, but there is no evidence that it causes cancer or heart disease.

Many researchers say that e-cigarettes ultimately prove to be much safer than traditional cigarettes.

Both studies focused on the tank system, a fast-growing member of the e-cigarette family. Unlike disposable e-cigarettes, which tend to mimic the look and feel of traditional cigarettes, tank systems tend to be larger devices that are heated with a variable-voltage battery.

Users fill them with liquid nicotine or e-liquid, and these devices quickly vaporize the liquid, producing a thick smoke and a massive nicotine hit.

The first study, led by Maciej L. Goniewicz of Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y., said that people using these systems "want more nicotine, but the problem is that they're also inhaling more toxic substances."

The second study looked at how people use these devices to create a more efficient vapor by dripping liquid onto a heating element.

The e-liquid heats up with such intense heat that formaldehyde and related toxins "approach the concentrations found in cigarettes," said Dr. Alan Shihadeh of the American University of Beirut, who led the study.

Both studies show that intense heat can change the composition of e-liquid, creating new chemicals. The researchers say the chemical reaction applies not only to liquid nicotine, but also to two other key ingredients in most e-liquids: vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol.

Roswell's study found that toxin levels increased significantly when the battery voltage was increased from 3.2 to 4.8 volts.

Roswell's study said, "This finding suggests that under certain conditions, e-cigarettes may expose users to the same or even higher levels of carcinogenic formaldehyde as tobacco smoke."

Traditional cigarettes produce dozens of carcinogens, said Prue Talbot of the University of California, Riverside.

E-cigarettes typically don't generate enough heat to produce combustion, which is a big reason health officials predict they will eventually prove less harmful than cigarettes.

Dr. Shihadeh said, "If I'm in a torture chamber and you make me have to smoke something, I'm going to choose e-cigarettes over regular cigarettes."

What does vaping do to your lungs?

Vaping can have several effects on lung health, as indicated by various studies and reports. Here are some key points based on the search results provided:

1. Evidence of Lung Injury

There is increasing evidence that electronic nicotine delivery systems can cause lung damage. 

A specific outbreak of lung injury associated with e-cigarette use, known as E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI), was reported in the United States, with a significant number of cases and deaths. 

2. Role of Vitamin E Acetate (VEA)

Vitamin E acetate, a common additive in e-cigarettes containing THC, is considered to play a significant role in lung injury cases. 

However, other chemicals cannot be ruled out due to insufficient evidence.

3. Inflammation and Cell Damage

Inhaling certain chemicals present in e-cigarette aerosols can damage lung cells, leading to necrosis and an inflammatory response that can result in pathological inflammation.

4. Changes in Immune State

Long-term daily inhalation of e-cigarette aerosols can alter the immune state of the lungs, potentially leading to conditions like acute lung injury (ALI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

5. Direct Toxicity of Chemicals

Certain chemicals, such as diacetyl, which is added to e-liquids for flavor, can cause lung diseases like bronchiolitis obliterans, a disease characterized by small airway obstruction.

6. Effects of Chronic Vaping

Chronic exposure to vaping can have long-term effects on respiratory health, including potential inflammation and injury.

7. Impact on Non-Users

The aerosols produced by e-cigarettes can increase the concentration of particulate matter in the indoor environment and contain potentially harmful substances, posing risks to both users and non-users.

8. Addictive Nature of Nicotine

Nicotine in e-cigarettes is highly addictive, and non-smokers who use e-cigarettes may become addicted to nicotine and find it difficult to quit.

9. Regulatory Actions

Different countries have taken various approaches to regulating e-cigarettes, with some banning their sale entirely, while others regulate them as consumer products, medicinal products, or tobacco products.

10. Need for Further Research

There is a need for more research to understand the long-term health consequences of vaping, especially among different age groups, and to develop evidence-based interventions for e-cigarette cessation.

It's important to note that while e-cigarettes are often marketed as a safer alternative to traditional smoking, they are not without risks, and the best approach for lung health is to avoid using both e-cigarettes and tobacco products.

Can a vaporizer cause cancer?

Vaporizers, like e-cigarettes, are devices that heat up a liquid to produce an aerosol, which users then inhale. 

While they are often marketed as a safer alternative to traditional smoking, there is growing concern about the potential health risks associated with vaping, including the risk of cancer. Here's what we know based on the available data:

1. Presence of Harmful Substances: E-cigarette devices and vaping fluids contain a series of substances that are known or suspected to be harmful, including nicotine derivatives, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and aldehydes 12.
2. Potential Oncogenicity: There is evidence that some of these substances can have transforming and cytotoxic activity in vitro, which raises concerns about their potential to cause cancer 12.
3. Increased Cancer Risk: A review of current data suggests that there is a clear reason for concern regarding the potential oncogenicity of e-cigarettes and e-liquids, with a strong scientific basis 12.
4. Long-Term Effects: Given the lag times observed with tobacco smoke, which can be up to 20 years, the long-term public health implications of vaping are a significant concern 12.
5. Need for Further Research: While the research is not yet conclusive, the potential risks associated with vaping warrant further study. There is a call for tighter control and regulation of these products to mitigate potential health risks 12.
6. Similar Risks to Smoking: Both vaping and smoking carry similar risks for causing lung cancer, and individuals with a history of vaping or tobacco use are at a higher risk for lung cancer 14.
7. MD Anderson Cancer Center's View: It is known that smoking cigarettes is a risk factor for several types of cancer, including lung cancer. The center acknowledges the concern about whether vaping might also contribute to lung cancer 15.