A study published on Wednesday in the journal Cancer Prevention Research has found that vaping e-liquids that contain glycerin and propylene glycol could lead to lung inflammation. However, more studies are required to determine the degree and duration of the inflammation.
Researchers found that people who never smoked but used e-cigarettes twice a day for a month had changes in the inflammatory cell counts in their lungs due to propylene glycol.
The researchers wrote, “The study is the ‘first experimental demonstration’ of the impact that e-cigarette use may have on inflammation in human lungs.”
Lead study author and Medical Oncologist Dr. Peter Shields said, “Obviously inhaling stuff is going to have some impact on the lungs.”
“This is another piece of information. I would not make the conclusion that this shows that e-cigs are harmful to your health, but one piece of evidence for that. I would say that we have choices in the world and it makes sense that if you’re not a smoker, you shouldn’t start using e-cigs,” added Dr. Shields.
On October 11, CDC Principal Deputy Director Anne Schuchat said, “The outbreak of the mysterious vaping-related illness has reached 1,299 cases and 26 deaths across the country.”
According to the CDC, among those lung injury cases, “most patients report a history of using tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing products. Exclusive use of nicotine-containing products has been reported by some patients with lung injury cases, and many patients with lung injury report combined use of THC- and nicotine-containing products.”
The new study specifically looked at the two components that are found in e-liqs – propylene glycol and glycerin.
“But it is still unknown what role, if any, nicotine-containing e-cigs are involved in the patients with severe respiratory illness,” explained Dr. Shields. “In that context, a lot of us are really looking hard for what might be unique to e-cigs that we wouldn’t see in traditional smokers.” The study had a few limitations. It included only 30 adults and the study was conducted for about a month. In addition, the e-cigs used in the study had no flavors or nicotine. Therefore, the researchers said more research is needed to find out more.
