Electronic cigarettes cause ‘popcorn lung’, research may suggest

The Tobacco, Alcohol and Gambling Advisory (TAG), Advocacy and Action Group has released a statement alleging that electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), previously called e-cigarettes, are not safe.

“They are harmful to users and cause pollution that is dangerous to non-users. This includes devices that do not contain the highly addictive drug nicotine, now called electronic non-nicotine delivery systems (ENNDS).

“These devices are no longer simply e-cigarettes. They have become more sophisticated and more deadly. Whether they contain nicotine or not, they can cause ‘popcorn lung’, according to David Christiani, Elkan Blout professor of environmental henetics at Harvard University.”

He has said it likely that research will expose more risks in the future.

Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO), informally known as popcorn lung, is a disease that results in obstruction of the smallest airways of the lungs (bronchioles) due to inflammation. The cause, according to TAG, is flavouring chemical diacetyl, used in flavouring popcorn, and also used in ENDS and ENNDS.

The aerosol emitted by these devices includes cancer-causing chemicals such as formaldehyde and other toxins including acetoin and 2.3-pentanedione, all of which can damage your lungs, the statement further warns.

“The frightening thing is that the variety of appealing flavours of fruit, alcohol and candy are attractive to young people,” says Peter Ucko, CEO of TAG. “Do not be deluded that the so-called ‘vapour’ from ENDS/ENNDS is harmless. It is an aerosol cocktail of toxic chemicals, which is also an air pollutant dangerous to non-users.”

Research published in the British Medical Journal suggested that the pollution caused by ENDS/ENNDS gets to extremely high levels indoors. Air quality measurements at an e-cigarette event in a large room in a hotel established that tiny particulate matter (PM₂₅) was higher than concentrations reported in hookah cafes and bars that allowed cigarettes smoking.

Ucko added: “The same policies which control smoking of tobacco products to protect people from exposure to tobacco smoke pollution (TSP), must be applied to electronic devices.”