How dangerous IS vaping compared to smoking? New review analyzes the dangers of both…. and finds former is linked to EIGHT lung diseases

Vaping is a much safer alternative to cigarettes, but according to a large study it increases the risk of eight lung diseases.

Concerns about e-cigarettes have led to bans in at least 34 countries, with Britain becoming the latest month to impose restrictions, halting sales of disposable vapes such as Juuls and Elf Bars.

But despite the fact that many of these countries continue to sell cigarettes, including Britain, research shows that vaping is far less harmful and leads to less serious health consequences.

Experts in Germany analyzed more than 600 studies – though narrowed in on 11 – on the effects of traditional cigarette and e-cigarette use to determine how the two compare.

They found that e-cigarettes were linked to eight lung diseases: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, various forms of pneumonia and popcorn lung, or damage to the small airways of the lungs.

Although some of these conditions can be fatal in extreme cases, they are not always life-threatening.

Meanwhile, smoking has long been linked to deadly conditions such as lung cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke – for which survival rates are much lower.

The researchers also wrote that e-cigarettes “reduced exposure to harmful toxins compared to traditional cigarettes” – with studies showing that the typical e-cigarette contains 2,000 chemicals, compared to more than 7,000 in traditional cigarettes.

They also found in their review that vapes contain less nicotine per puff than cigarettes, which could make them less addictive and therefore more harmful because the user uses them less often.

Dr. Michael Steinberg, director of the Rutgers University Tobacco Dependence Program, who was not involved in the study, told DailyMail.com: ‘At this point in our understanding, the evidence is fairly indisputable that e-cigarettes are significantly less harmful than combusted tobacco. Products.’

‘Although it varies depending on many factors, the risk is very small for some conditions, such as COPD. However, health effects may still occur with some conditions, such as asthma and cardiovascular disease.’

Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, director of the Tobacco Treatment Clinic at Johns Hopkins University, told DailyMail.com that the “results from vaping represent more acute problems” than chronic conditions.

However, he said it’s crucial to remember that “individuals who vape haven’t done so in decades” – meaning their actual health damage may not be known for some time.

There is some concern about the amount of toxic metals released by e-cigarettes when the e-liquid is heated and turned into vapor.

Urine and blood tests have shown that e-cigarette users have levels of lead and arsenic in their bodies that can lead to health problems over time.

Long-term consumption of arsenic has been linked to cancer and skin lesions, while lead has been linked to brain damage, organ failure and seizures.

The German team from Herdecke University called for more long-term research and legislation to discourage young people from vaping, as more than two million children as young as high school report using vapes and half of students who try become addicted .

“E-cigarettes demonstrate reduced exposure to harmful toxins compared to traditional cigarettes,” the researchers wrote.

‘However, concerns remain about respiratory irritation and potential health risks, especially among young people, highlighting the need for comprehensive long-term research and protective legislation.

‘The results of the carefully researched studies revealed fewer harmful effects of e-cigarettes for users, which have not yet been scientifically proven.’

The research team evaluated 648 studies conducted between 2000 and June 2023. However, they mainly focused on 11.

“The studies reviewed consistently suggest that e-cigarettes may offer a less harmful alternative for adult smokers who cannot or do not want to quit smoking,” they said.

‘The reduction of harmful toxins generated by e-cigarettes, compared to the enormous amount of harmful substances produced by burning tobacco, is a promising aspect of harm reduction.’

They found that e-cigarettes tend to contain fewer harmful toxins than traditional cigarettes, reducing the amount of carcinogens they produce.

Additionally, the researchers noted that vapes contain less nicotine, making users less likely to become addicted.

“For tobacco smokers who want to quit smoking, e-cigarette substitutes contain less nicotine with potentially lower health risks,” they wrote.

However, the team also linked vaping to several chronic conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and EVALI, which stands for “use of e-cigarettes or vaping products associated with lung injury.”

The exact cause of the injury is still not fully understood, but researchers have since focused on the compound vitamin E acetate, which is often used as a thickener in illegal cannabis vape devices.

There is no test to determine if someone has EVALI, so the diagnosis is based on symptoms, including shortness of breath, fever, chills, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, fast heart rate and chest pain, according to the American Pulmonary Association (ALA).

EVALI has caused a number of distressing health problems. A 34-year-old Ohio woman who consumed about eight cartridges of vape liquid every week, the equivalent of 50 cigarettes a day, found herself on life support within 24 hours of going to the emergency room for breathing problems.

In another terrifying case, a 20-year-old woman from Britain named Abby Flynn developed a rare lung condition called ‘popcorn lung’ that doctors warned could leave her dependent on an oxygen machine before the age of 30.

In the new study, vaping was also linked to bronchitis, pneumonia and worsening asthma.

‘E-cigarettes can damage the respiratory tract. It can cause respiratory irritation. Symptoms that occur include coughing and wheezing,” the researchers wrote.

‘However, the severity of the consequences seems less striking than with regular cigarettes.’

The researchers also noted that vaping could encourage young people to take up smoking due to a range of flavors and marketing practices.

“The attractive flavors, innovative marketing and easy accessibility have raised concerns that e-cigarettes could entice non-smokers, including teens, to take up vaping and then switch to smoking traditional cigarettes,” they said she.

‘So effective regulation and measures to prevent young people from taking up are crucial in realizing the potential harm reduction benefits of e-cigarettes.’

For example, a 2023 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that approximately 2.1 million children currently use e-cigarettes. And about half of them become addicted.

And a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) states that across all WHO regions, more 13- to 15-year-olds use vaping than adults, helped by aggressive marketing. This led the agency to call for a global ban on all flavored vapors.

Dr. However, Steinberg said, “We are not considering ‘banning’ flavored e-cigarettes while continuing to allow flavored combustion tobacco products, such as menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, to remain on the market.”

The researchers in the new study noted that more long-term research is needed to truly understand the effects of vaping.

‘The effects of smoking e-cigarettes on health have not been properly researched so far. Further protective controlled cohort studies are needed to uncover the health risks of e-cigarettes,” they wrote.

The research was published in the journal on Tuesday Food and chemical toxicology.