For many tobacco specialists, the electronic cigarette is a relevant option for quitting tobacco. Offering different flavors to consumers, they allow smokers to vape according to their tastes. But – in terms of health – are all flavors equal?
Inspired by a series of cases of lung damage reported in adolescent vapers in 2019, Professor Ajitha Thanabalasuriar of the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at McGill University (Montreal), exposed mice to electronic cigarette vapor for several days .
At the same time, she used an imaging technique to observe their pulmonary immune cells in real time.
Paralyzed immune cells
The results showed that specific chemicals found in berry vapes paralyze immune cells responsible for eliminating harmful particles, leaving the body more exposed to respiratory infections.
Although previous research has already established that all forms of vaping can be harmful, this study adds an additional dimension by suggesting that some added flavorings exacerbate the dangers.
« We need to be careful about the types of flavors we include in these products ”, explains Pr Thanabalasuriar.
Which also emphasizes that vaping products, “ often marketed in ways that appeal to young people, pose a serious risk to adolescents’ future health. »
Health
