In 2019, a series of cases of lung damage were identified among adolescent vapers. The department of pharmacology and therapeutics at McGill University in Montreal took the investigations further by exposing mice to electronic cigarette vapor for several days. The real-time effects of smoke on the lung immune cells of mice were also observed using an imaging technique.
The convincing results were presented in a recent study, led by Professor Ajitha Thanabalasuriar, and published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Flavored electronic cigarettes, specifically those with red fruits, could weaken the natural defenses of the lungs. The results of the study demonstrate that specific chemicals, present in red fruit vapes, paralyze the immune cells responsible for eliminating harmful particles. The body would thus become more vulnerable to respiratory infections.
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This study is a blow to the belief that the electronic cigarette is a relevant option for quitting tobacco, while having the possibility of varying tastes by choosing vaping flavors. Because if replacing tobacco smoke with an aerosol makes it possible to eliminate certain toxic products such as tar or carbon monoxide, the fact remains that vaping liquid is not harmless. Indeed, the main components, such as vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol, are often accompanied by flavors and nicotine. However, the study reinforces the results of previous research regarding the harmfulness of all forms of vaping by suggesting that certain aromas aggravate the dangers involved.
The results of this study are all the more important since today, the products on sale are marketed in attractive shapes and colors in order to target an increasingly young clientele, from adolescence onwards. In France, more than 6 out of 10 vapers choose a fruity liquid according to ANSES.
