E-cigarettes may be more harmful than previously believed, British researchers warn today.
A study by academics at the University of Birmingham, England, has found that the vapour from an e-cigarette disables key protective cells in the lung that keep the air spaces clear of potentially harmful particles.
Writing in Thorax, the team says the vaping process can damage vital immune system cells, at least under laboratory conditions.
The researchers devised a mechanical procedure to mimic vaping and produce condensate from the vapour, extracting alveolar macrophages from lung tissue samples provided by eight non-smokers who had never had asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
A third of the cells were exposed to plain e-cigarette fluid, a third to different strengths of the artificially vaped condensate with and without nicotine, and a third to nothing for 24 hours.
The results showed that the condensate was significantly more harmful to the cells than e-cigarette fluid and that these effects worsened as the ‘dose’ increased.
After 24 hours of exposure the number of viable cells exposed to the vaped condensate was significantly reduced compared to the untreated cells, and condensate containing nicotine exaggerated this effect.
Exposure to the condensate increased cell death and boosted production of oxygen free radicals by a factor of 50, and it significantly increased the production of inflammatory chemicals–more so when the condensate contained nicotine.
The researchers say their findings suggest that while further research is needed to better understand the long-term health impact of vaping on people, e-cigarettes may be more harmful than we think.
The write: “Importantly, exposure of macrophages to [e-cigarette vapour condensate] induced many of the same cellular and functional changes in [alveolar macrophage] function seen in cigarette smokers and patients with COPD.”
In an accompanying podcast, lead author Professor David Thickett, from the university’s Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, says although e-cigarettes are safer than traditional cigarettes, they may still be harmful in the long term.
“In terms of cancer-causing molecules in cigarette smoke, as opposed to cigarette vapour, there are certainly reduced numbers of carcinogens. They are safer in terms of cancer risk, but if you vape for 20 or 30 years and this can cause COPD, then that’s something we need to know about,” he says.
“I don’t believe e-cigarettes are more harmful than ordinary cigarettes, but we should have a cautious scepticism that they are as safe as we are being led to believe.”
Scott A, Lugg ST, Aldridge K et al. Pro-inflammatory effects of e-cigarette vapour condensate on human alveolar macrophages. Thorax 14 August 2018; doi 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2018-211663
http://thorax.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2018-211663
Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/bmjpodcasts/how-toxic-is-your-vape
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