Vaping Possible Negative Effects on Lungs: State-of-the-Art From Lung Capacity Alteration to Cancer

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) CA), 2024-10, Vol.16 (10), p.e72109
• Main Authors: Rahim, Fakher, Toguzbaeva, Karlygash, Sokolov, Dmitriy, Dzhusupov, Kenesh O, Zhumagaliuly, Abzal, Tekmanova, Ainur, Kussaiynova, Elmira, Katayeva, Aiya, Orazbaeva, Sholpan, Bayanova, Aidana, Olzhas, Mariyam, Zhumataeva, Alina, Moldabekova, Sabina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carcinogens; Disease control; Electronic cigarettes; Epidemiology/Public Health; Fever; Lung cancer; Middle schools; Mitochondrial DNA; Nicotine; Oncology; Public health; Pulmonology; Smoking; Students; Vaping; Ventilators
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.72109

Vaping has emerged as a popular alternative to traditional smoking. It produces smokeless vapour by heating an e-liquid mixture in an atomizer. This paper delves into the current state of knowledge surrounding electronic cigarettes, exploring the gap between the perceived safety of e-liquids and the emerging evidence of their harmful effects when inhaled. As we navigate this intricate landscape, it is crucial to unravel the complexities of vaping and its implications for public health. We conducted a three-layer systematic review of the guidelines set by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) and Meta-analyses of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE). The search was performed in three layers, including the first layer, the effect of vaping on lung function; the second layer, the effect of vaping on lung structure and inducing lung injury; and the third layer, the physiopathologic effect of vaping on the lung and a possible carcinogenic effect. Exposure to e-cigarette vapour reduced lung ventilation in adult male Long-Evans rats, indicating impaired lung function. In male Wistar rats, vaping was associated with a decrease in lung air volume and denser lung tissue structure. Studies on guinea pigs showed that vaping caused acute bronchoconstriction, contributing to lung function impairment. A case study of a young man with an E-cigarette and vaping-induced lung injury (EVALI) highlighted the detrimental effects of vaping on human lung function. The EVALI outbreak in the USA was linked to harmful substances in vapes, such as vitamin E acetate and THC, leading to serious lung injuries, including pneumonia and bronchiolitis. Vaping poses significant health risks, especially to young adults, and misconceptions regarding its safety persist despite evidence of its potential to cause various lung diseases. While vaping has positioned itself as a smoking cessation aid, the discussion surrounding its impact on lung health requires careful consideration. The lack of conclusive evidence on the long-term effects of vaping underscores the need for further research. However, existing data suggest that vaping is not without risks, and its potential association with respiratory issues and cancer underscores the urgency of public health interventions.