New findings show e-cigarettes may pose cancer risk

diamond hope

January 30, 2018 4:11 PM

While a lot of smokers are quitting cigarettes and choosing e-cigarettes, it appears it is still a health risk.

Findings from a recent research have led scientists to warn that smoke from e-cigarettes can increase the risk of cancer and heart disease.

The battery-driven devices, which deliver an instant nicotine boost without burning tobacco, have been widely promoted as a safer alternative to cigarettes. But findings from a new study suggest they are far from harmless and could pose a serious health risk.

The research was led by Dr. Moon-shong Tang, from New York University School of Medicine who warned that 'vapers' may be increasing their risk of life-threatening conditions.

Reporting the findings in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers wrote: "We propose that ECS (e-cigarette smoke) is carcinogenic and that e-cig smokers have a higher risk than non-smokers to develop lung and bladder cancer and heart diseases."

What was the result of the research?

In laboratory tests, mice exposed to e-cigarette smoke had higher levels of DNA damage in the heart, lungs, and bladder than those breathing normal filtered air. Also, DNA repair systems, which protect against cancer, were impaired in the animals' cells.

Similar results were seen when cultured human lung and bladder cells were exposed to nicotine and nicotine derivatives. The cells were more likely to mutate or undergo tumor-triggering changes than non-exposed cells.

Recent studies have shown that e-cigarette smokers have 97% less of a lung carcinogen known as NNAL in their bodies than tobacco smokers. However, NNAL levels are still significantly higher in e-cigarette smokers than non-smokers.

While tobacco smoke contains a host of potentially dangerous chemicals, e-cigarette vapor consists only of nicotine and some relatively harmless organic solvents.

The scientists warned that many e-cigarette smokers, especially younger people, had taken up the habit not to quit smoking tobacco but because they assumed it was safe.

Existing advice published by Public Health England said evidence concluded that e-cigarettes are around 95% safer than smoked tobacco and they can help smokers to quit.

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