According to University of New South Wales researchers, a new review of global research indicates e-cigarettes are likely to cause lung cancer and oral cancer. Adjunct Professor Bernard Stewart, a cancer researcher at the university, stated that considering all the findings from clinical monitoring, animal studies and mechanistic data, e-cigarettes are likely to cause lung cancer and oral cancer. The review is described by the University of New South Wales as one of the most detailed attempts to determine the impact of e-cigarettes so far, with Stewart adding that to their knowledge, this review is the most definitive determination that those who vape are at increased risk of cancer compared to those who don't. UNSW Associate Professor Freddy Sitas noted that the evidence across fields was remarkably consistent, dictating an unequivocal finding now.
The review consulted clinical studies, animal studies, and lab research examining chemicals produced by e-cigarettes and their effects. University of New South Wales researchers reported that studies reviewed show vaping is linked to inflamed tissue and oxidative stress, which are signs of damaged DNA. Some experiments in mice showed vaping caused lung tumors, according to the researchers. They identified numerous cancer-causing chemicals in e-cigarette aerosols, including chemicals, metals, and volatile organic compounds.
Volatile organic compounds in e-cigarette aerosols include formaldehyde, diacetyl, and acrolein, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Johns Hopkins Medicine also reports that acrolein and diacetyl are tied to lung disease. According to The Independent - World, Stephen Broderick, a lung cancer surgeon at Johns Hopkins Medicine, described that smoking tobacco forces tiny particles to be deposited deep in the bronchial tree and can lead to cancer development, and the same may be true for vaping. University of New South Wales researchers say vaping causes changes to the oral microbiome, driving inflammation and increasing oral cancer risk.
We do know that smoking tobacco forces tiny particles to be deposited deep in the bronchial tree and can lead to the development of cancer. The same may be true for vaping.
Researchers highlighted the case of a 19-year-old boy with an extensive vaping history who developed an aggressive form of mouth cancer, according to University of New South Wales researchers. The cancers from e-cigarettes are expected to lead to 138,140 deaths in the U.S. this year, the researchers reported.
Human studies that estimate the risk of cancer from vaping will take decades to accumulate, according to UNSW Associate Professor Freddy Sitas. University of New South Wales researchers say they will only be able to determine the precise risk when longer-term studies on humans are available. Other researchers previously said e-cigarettes had not been around long enough to definitively say they caused cancer, and health consequences of e-cigarettes are just starting to be understood. Professor Freddy Sitas noted that it took about 100 years for evidence to be conclusive enough to say smoking causes lung cancer, and a similar evolution is seen with e-cigarettes as with tobacco.
The risks are highest for those who smoke both traditional cigarettes and use vapes, increasing their lung cancer risk four-fold, according to University of New South Wales researchers. Approximately half of the smoking population smokes both traditional cigarettes and uses vapes, the researchers said. Around 60% of people diagnosed with mouth cancer in England survive their cancer for five years after diagnosis, while for lung cancer, only 10% of patients survive more than ten years.
The UK government introduced a ban on disposable vapes last year, and vaping may be banned in cars in the UK due to concerns over second-hand vapour. The new review suggests precautionary measures flagging vapes as possibly carcinogenic do not go far enough when there is no doubt that vaping gives rise to these cancers, according to University of New South Wales researchers.