Effects of vaping could be WORSE than smoking a regular cigarette, study finds
A new study found that the flavourings in e-cigarettes causes inflammation in the lungs
VAPING may be worse for you than traditional smoking, a new study claims.
Greek researchers found that flavourings in e-cigarettes harm the lungs by causing inflammation.
Experiments, conducted on mice, showed that even in the short-term, the inflammation they caused was similar or worse than conventional cigarettes.
Dr Constaninos Glynos said: "The observed detrimental effects in the lung upon e-cigarette vapour exposure in animal models highlight the need for further investigation of safety and toxicity of these rapidly expanding devices worldwide."
They simulate smoking a traditional cigarette by dispensing a vapour derived from liquid chemicals in a refillable cartridge that typically contain propylene glycol, nicotine and often flavourings.
Propylene glycol - a colourless and odourless additive - is found in numerous processed food and beverages. It is also used as a solvent in a number of pharmaceuticals.
The findings, published in the American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular, show e-cigs and refills are not well regulated - and their long-term effects on health are unknown.
Researchers compared several groups of mice that received whole-body exposure to varying chemical combinations four times each day, with every session separated by 30-minute smoke-free intervals.
Dr Glynos from the University of Athens, said: "Electronic cigarettes are advertised as a less harmful nicotine delivery system or as a new smoking cessation tool. Our findings suggest that exposure to e-cig vapour can trigger inflammatory responses and adversely affect respiratory system mechanics."
Dr Glynos added: "We conclude that both e-cig vaping and conventional cigarette smoking negatively impact lung biology."
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His findings follow a British study earlier this year that also suggested vaping is more harmful than previously thought.
University of Birmingham scientists extracted cells from lung samples provided by healthy non-smokers and exposed them to e-cig fluid, condensed vapour or nothing for 24 hours. Exposure to the vapour increased cell death and the production of inflammatory chemicals.
Public Health England says e-cigs are 95 per cent safer than traditional cigarettes. And they suggest smokers should consider switching to vaping in a bid to help them quit. But critics warn vaping may cause lung disease, keep people hooked on nicotine, or act as route in to smoking for kids.
Some 7.4million Brits smoke and 2.8million use e-cigs, Office for National Statistics figures show.
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